THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


PRESENTED  BY 

PROF.  CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 
MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


FERGUS  COUN' 


Birds  of  Pen 


3SUEB  BY  THE  AUTHORITY 

TRUSTEES,  FERGUS  < 


LEWISTOWN,  MONT,,  ISi 

PEE8S  OF  THE  AB»US. 


AMERICAN    MAGPIE. 
Photo  by  E.  R.  Warren. 


THE 


Birds  of  Fergus  County,  Montana 


—BY— 


P.  M.  SILLOWAY 


MEMBER    OF    THE   AMERICAN    ORNITHOLOGISTS'    UNION,    AUTHOR 

OF  SKETCHES  OF  SOME  COMMON  BIRDS,   SUMMER  BIRDS 

OF    FLATHEAD    LAKE,    ETC. 


LEWISTOWN,  MONT.,  1908. 

PBE88   OF   THE   ARGUS. 


INTRODUCTORY. 


The  following  list  of  the  birds  of  Fergus  County,  Montana,  like  all 
similar  publications,  is  intended  primarily  to  aid  any  worker  in  this 
branch  of  natural  history,  and  to  extend  the  knowledge  of  the  common 
birds  of  this  region.  It  is  further  hoped  that  it  will  be  a  help  to  any  per- 
son who  may  be  interested  in  forming  the  acquaintance  of  some  of  the 
birds  which  escape  common  observation.  While  possibly  not  free  from 
errors,  the  list  is  believed  to  be  as  complete  as  present  information  can 
make  it,  and  hence  it  will  serve  as  a  basis  for  more  detailed  and  extensive 
investigation. 

In  order  to  make  the  list  usable  to  general  observers,  brief  descrip- 
tions have  been  included,  given  in  such  terms  as  the  ordinary  reader  may 
understand.  While  not  aimed  to  be  exact  scientific  descriptions,  it  is  be- 
lieved that  this  feature  of  the  list  will  add  to  its  value  to  teachers  and 
others  interested  in  nature  study. 

The  author  desires  to  commend  the  wise  and  broad-minded  policy 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Fergus  County  High  School,  in  recogniz- 
ing so  clearly  the  educative  mission  of  the  high  school  in  any  community, 
and  in  using  this  means  to  advance  the  knowledge  of  the  natural  history 
of  this  region.  To  Mr.  F.  B.  Wright,  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees; 
Mr.  Rudolf  von  Tobel,  Secretary;  Mr.  David  Hilger,  Mr.  Theo.  Hogeland, 
members,  who  were  foremost  in  suggesting  the  preparation  of  this  work, 
Mr.  W.  A.  Hedges,  member;  Elizabeth  Peebles,  former  ex-officio  member, 
and  Ada  Myersick,  ex-officio  member,  the  personal  thanks  of  the  author 
are  due  for  hearty  support  accorded  the  publication  of  the  list  and  for 
ample  provision  for  issuing  it  in  durable  and  attractive  form. 

For  the  illustrations,  we  acknowledge  our  indebtedness  to  Prof.  M.  J. 
Xllrod,  of  the  University  of  Montana,  from  whose  photographs  the 
plates  of  nests  and  eggs  were  made;  and  to  Mr.  E.  R.  Warren,  of  Colorado 
Springs,  for  excellent  photographs  of  living  birds,  from  which  the  plates 
of  birds  were  made. 

Copies  of  this  bulletin  can  be  obtained  upon  application  to  the  au- 
thor or  to  Rudolf  von  Tobol,  Secretary  Board  of  Trustees,  Fergus  County 
High  School,  Lewistown.  Mont. 


M366957 


MAP    OF  FERGUS  CO. 


TOPOGRAPHY  OF  FERGUS  COUNTY. 


Fergus  County  lies  in  the  geographical  center  of  Montana.  From 
east  to  west  it  has  an  extent  of  about  125  miles,  and  from  north  to  south 
about  110  miles.  The  area  of  the  county  is  6,762  square  miles.  Beginning 
at  the  Highwood  Mountains,  at  the  union  of  Cascade,  Choteau,  and  Fergus 
Counties,  a  point  which  forms  the  extreme  north-western  angle  of  Fergus 
County,  we  follow  the  boundaries  of  the  county  north-east  along  Arrow 
lliver  to  its  junction  with  the  Missouri  River.  Along  the  northern  boundary 
we  journey  eastward  down  the  Missouri  to  the  mouth  of  the  Musselshell, 
thus  reaching  the  north-eastern  corner  of  the  county.  Traveling  southward 
up  the  Musselsbell  River,  we  reach  the  Great  Bend  of  that  river,  which 
marks  the  south-eastern  corner  of  Fergus  County.  Following  up  the  Mus- 
selshell toward  the  southwest,  we  trace  the  southern  boundary  of  the 
county  to  Elk  Creek,  which  joins  the  Musselshell  in  a  course  from  the 
Lorthwest,  forming  with  Careless  Creek  the  south-western  boundary  of  the 
county.  Traveling  directly  westward  across  the  Judith  Gap,  we  strike  the 
Little  Belt  Mountains,  whose  ridge  forms  the  further  boundary  of  the 
county  until  we  reach  the  north  and  south  line  between  Cascade  and  Fergus 
counties. 

The  physical  features  of  Fergus  County  are  so  varied  that  its  avi- 
fauna is  correspondingly  enriched  by  representatives  of  various  zones  or 
conditions  of  bird-life.  More  than  three-fourths  of  the  boundary '  of  the 
county  is  formed  by  the  Missouri  River  and  its  branches.  As  the  river  is  a 
great  natural  highway  of  bird  movement,  many  species,  which  otherwise 
would  limit  their  activities  to  the  Mississippi  valley  and  the  Great  Plains, 
ascend  far  up  the  river  and  its  head-waters,  and  thus  become  a  part  of 
the  avi-fauna  of  the  region.  It  is  likely  that  such  species  as  brown 
thrasher,  catbird,  red-eyed  vireo,  bronzed  grackle,  bobolink,  kingbird, 
flicker,  red-headed  woodpecker,  Bartramian  sandp'iper,  and  other  Missis- 
sippi valley  species  have  worked  their  way  gradually  along  the  great  water 
highway,  and  have  established  themselves  around  the  upper  waters  of 
the  Missouri. 

The  western  portions  of  the  county  include  several  of  the  out- 
lying spurs  of  the  Rockies.  Indeed,  the  Big  Snowies  and  the  Little  Snow- 
ies cut  their  way  eastward  more  than  half  the  length  of  the  county,  while 
in  the  northern  part  lie  the  two  groups  of  Moccasins  and  the  Judith 
Mountains.  These  elevations  vary  between  six  and  eight  thousand  feet  in 
height,  and  the  higher  Snowies  even  exceed  these  limits. 

By  way  of  these  mountain  spurs,  the  typical  alpine  species  and  moun- 
tain residents  frequently  find  their  way  far  into  the  county.  Hence  we 
note  the  occurrence  of  the  mountain  chickadee,  pygmy  nuthatch,  Amer- 
ican dipper,  pine  siskin,  gray-crowned  leucosticte,  Clarke's  nutcracker, 
Rocky  Mountain  jay,  and  perhaps  others. 

The  portions   of  the   county  east  of  the  mountains   partake  of  the 


6          BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL. 

character  of  the  so-called  "Bad  Lands,"  and  their  avi-fauna  belongs  some- 
what to  that  of  the  Great  Plains  region.  Arid  conditions  of  climate  and 
soil  prevail.  Large  areas  are  overgrown  with  low  forms  of  cacti  and 
dwarf  sage.  The  streamsides  support  heavy  growths  of  greasewood  and 
the  larger  sage-brush.  Among  such  surroundings  may  •  be  noted  the  sage 
thrasher,  lark  bunting,  clay-colored  sparrow,  western  vesper  sparrow.  Mc- 
Oown's  longspur,  chestnut-collared  longspur,  and  sage  grouse,  as  the  most 
common. 

The  immediate  valley  of  the  Musselshell  River  averages  more  than 
half  a  mile  wide,  and  is  characterized  by  a  heavy  growth  of  cottonwoods 
in  most  places,  broken  by  clumps  of  box  elder,  quaking  aspen,  haw,  willow, 
and  other  dwarf  trees.  The  plains  beyond  the  river  valleys  are  almost 
devoid  of  trees. 

The  elevation  of  Fergus  County  varies  from  three  thousand  to  eight 
thousand  feet,  the  larger  portion  perhaps  being  between  mree  thousand 
and  three  thousand  five  hundred  feet.  The  altitude  of  Lewistown  at  the 
site  of  old  Camp  Lewis  is  3,890  feet.  In  the  Judith  Gap  the  altitude  is 
4.650  feet.  Judith  Peak  is  6,386  feet  high.  At  old  Ft.  Maginnis  the  ele- 
vation is  4,310.  The  altitude  of  Ubet  is  4,540  feet;  of  Utica,  4,420;  of  Phil- 
brook,  4,260;  of  Oka,  4,540;  of  Castle  Rock  or  Butte,  4,947;  of  Cone  Butte, 
5,820;  of  Moccasin  Peak,  5,547,  of  Wild  Horse  Lake,  2,850.  Ft.  Keogh, 
on  the  Yellowstone,  to  which  frequent  reference  is  made,  has  an  elevation 
of  2,367  feet. 

The  western  portion  of  the  county  contains  the  beautiful  Judith 
Basin.  Fed  by  the  snows  of  the  northern  slopes  of  the  Big  Snowies  and 
Little  Belts,  the  Judith  River  takes  its  rise  in  the  western  part  of  the 
county,  and  thence  flows  in  an  indirect  course  to  the  Missouri  on  the 
north.  Many  small  streams  feed  the  Judith  River  with  their  crystal  cold 
waters,  among  which  the  most  important  is  Big  Spring  Creek  or  Big 
Trout  Creek.  It  is  said  that  only  once  in  the  history  of  Lewistown  has 
this  creek  been  frozen  from  bank  to  bank.  On  its  open  waters  ducks  fre- 
quently linger  through  the  coldest  weather. 

In  the  Judith  Basin,  the  little  bends  of  the  small  streams  and 
ditches  support  thick  patches  of  rose  bushes,  with  clumps  of  dwarf  wil- 
low, haw,  buffalo-berry,  and  choke-cherry.  The  coulees  and  ravines  open- 
ing into  the  water-courses  are  clustered  with  the  foregoing  growths,  be- 
sides service-berry,  dwarf  aspens,  and  dwarf  conifers.  The  foot-hills 
and  mountain  slopes  are  burdened  with  thick  areas  of  pine,  fir,  and  other 
evergreen.  The  benches  and  high  prairies  of  the  Judith  Basin  are  cov- 
ered with  choice  grass,  forming  rich  grazing  lands.  In  spring  myriads  of 
wild  flowers  deck  the  hill-sides.  Then  we  see  beds  of  larkspur,  shooting- 
star,  harebell,  adder's-tongue,  wind-flower,  buttercup,  wild  flax,  and  others 
of  similar  habits.  The  benches  and  prairies  are  tenanted  by  birds,  such 
as  McCown's  longspur,  desert  horned  lark,  long-billed  curlew,  mountain 
plover,  western  meadowlark,  western  vesper  sparrow,  and  an  occasional 
Sprague's  pipit.  The  prevailing  altitude  of  these  level  areas  is  about  4,000 
feet. 


BIRDS  OF  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA.  7 

A  PARTIAL  BIBLIOGRAPHY  OF  MONTANA  BIRDS. 


Allen,  J.  A.  Notes  on  the  Natural  History  of  Portions  of  Montana 
and  Dakota.  Proc.  Boston  Soc.  Nat.  Hist,  Vol.  XVII.,  June,  1874,  Boston. 
Contains  many  references  regarding  the  occurrence  of  birds  along  the  Mus- 
selshell  border  of  Fergus  County,  which  have  been  particularly  helpful  in 
the  preparation  of  the  present  list. 

Audubon,  J.  J.    Birds  of  America,     1840,  etc. 

Bendire,  Charles  B.  Life  Histories  of  North  American  Birds  with 
Special  Reference  to  their  Breeding  Habits  and  Eggs.  Government  Print- 
ing Office,  Washington,  1892.  Contains  frequent  references  to  Montana 
localities. 

Bishop,  Louis  B.  Montana  Redpolls.  Auk,  Vol.  XVIIL,  p.  195,  1901. 
Mentions  the  occurrence  of  A.  1.  rostrata,  A.  1.  holboellii,  and  A.  horn- 
cmannii  exilipes,  besides  A.  linaria. 

Cameron,  E.  S.  The  Migration  of  Phalaropes  in  Montana.  Ibis, 
Jan.,  1900,  pp.  67-70. 

Cameron,  E.  S.  Migration  of  the  Common  American  Buzzard  in 
Montana.  Ibis,  Vol.  III.,  pp.  (?). 

Cameron,  E.  S.  The  Marsh  Hawk  in  Montana.  Country  Life  (Lon- 
don), date  unknown. 

Cooley,  R.  A.  The  Wood  Ibis  in  Montana.  Auk,  Vol.  XX.,  p.  210, 
1903.  Regarding  the  occurrence  of  Tantalum  loculator  in  Madison  Valley. 

Cooper,  J.  G.  The  Fauna  of  Montana  Territory.  Amer.  Nat.,  Vol. 
III.,  pp.  31-35,  73-84,  1869.  Contains  many  interesting  notes  regarding  the 
occurrence  of  eighty-eight  species. 

Cooper,  J.  G.  Notes  on  the  Fauna  of  the  Upper  Missouri.  Amer. 
Nat.,  Vol.  III.,  1869,  pp.  294-299. 

Coues,  Elliott  B.  Birds  of  the  Northwest.  Government  Printing 
Office,  Washington,  1874.  Contains  many  references  to  various  localities 
in  Montana. 

Coues,  Elliott  B.  Field  Notes  on  Birds  Observed  in  Dakota  and 
Montana  Along  the  Forty-Ninth  Parallel.  Bull.  TJ.  S.  Geol.  and  Geog.  Surv., 
Vol.  IV.,  No.  3,  Washington,  1878.  Contains  frequent  references  to  locali- 
ties in  northern  Montana. 

.Coues,  Elliott  B.  On  the  Nesting  of  Certain  Hawks.  Amer.  Nat., 
Vol.  VIII.,  pp.  596-603,  1874.  Regarding  the  nesting  of  Swainson's  Hawk, 
Ferruginous  Rough-leg,  American  Lanier  Falcon,  and  Duck  Hawk. 

Coues,  Elliott  B.  Notes  on  the  breeding  of  P.  mccownii  in  Montana. 
Amer.  Nat,  Vol.  VIII.,  p.  602,  1874. 

Crooker,  O.  E.  Sitta  canadensis  in  Montana.  The  Ooologist,  Vol. 
X.,  pp.  183-184,  1893.  Records  the  taking  of  a  set  of  eggs  at  Helena. 

Davie,  Oliver.  Nests  and  Eggs  of  North  American  Birds.  Fifth 
edition,  Columbus,  Ohio,  1898.  Contains  frequent  references  to  Montana 
localities. 


8          BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

Elrod,  M.  J.  A  Biological  Reconnaissance  in  the  Vicinity  of  Flathead 
Lake.  Bull.  Univ.  of  Mont,  Biol.  Ser.  No.  3,  1902,  Missoula.  General 
references  to  the  ornithology  of  the  various  localities  described. 

Hayden,  F.  V.  Sixth  annual  Report  of  the  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  Govern- 
ment Printing  Office,  1893.  Notes  on  Birds  by  C.  Hart  Merriam.  Contains 
many  references  regarding  the  occurrence  of  birds  in  western  Montana. 

Hayden,  F.  V.  On  the  Geology  and  Natural  History  of  the  Upper 
Missouri.  Trans.  Amer.  Phil.  Soc.,  Vol.  XII.,  1862,  Philadelphia.  Pp.  151- 
176,  Birds. 

Jones,  Lynds,  and  Dawson,  W.  L.  A  summer  Reconnaissance  in  the 
West.  The  Wilson  Bulletin,  No.  33,  Oberlin,  Ohio,  1900.  Contains  lists 
of  birds  noted  between  Thompson's  Falls  and  Livingston,  37 
species;  Billings,  Mont.,  35  species;  Billings  to  Miles  City,  Mont.,  31 
species. 

Ludlow,  Win.  Report  of  a  Reconnaissance  from  Carroll,  Montana, 
to  Yellowstone  National  Park,  and  return.  Government  Printing  Office, 
Washington,  1876.  Oology  by  George  Bird  Grinnell.  Pp.  72-92,  Birds. 

Maximilian,  Prinz  zu  Wied.  Reise  in  das  innere  Nord-Amerika  in 
den  Jahren  1832  bis  1834.  2  Vols.,  Coblenz,  1839-1841;  3  Vols.,  Paris,  1840- 
1843.  Contains  many  references  to  Upper  Missouri  localities. 

Maximilian,  Prinz  zu  Wied.  Verzeichniss  der  Vogel,  etc.  Journal 
fur  Ornith.,  Vol.  VI.,  1858,  pp.  1-29,  97-124,  177-205,  257-284,  337,354,  417- 
445;  Vol.  VII.,  pp.  81-96. 

McChesney,  Chas.  E.  Report  on  the  Mammals  and  Birds  of  the 
General  Region  of  the  Big  Horn  River  and  Mountains  of  Montana  Terri- 
tory. Report  of  Chief  Engineers  U.  S.  A.,  App.  SS3,  1879,  Washington. 

Merrill,  J.  C.  Notes  on  Breeding  Habits  of  Certain  Birds  in  the 
Big  Horn  Mountains.  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  VI.,  1881,  p.  205. 

Merrill,  J.  C.  Notes  on  the  occurrence  of  L.  tephrocotis  and  littor- 
al is  at  Ft.  Shaw.  Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  V.,  1880,  p.  75. 

Pyfer,  Amos  M.  Nesting  of  Clarke's  Nutcracker.  The  Oologist,  Vol. 
XIV.,  pp.  100-101,  1897. 

Pyfer,  Amos  M.  Birds  of  Montana.  The  Oologist,  Vol.  XV.,  pp.  14- 
15.  Contains  notes  on  various  species  near  Salesville,  Mont. 

Richmond,  Chas.  W.,  and  Knowlton,  F.  H.  Birds  of  South-Central 
Montana.  Auk,  Vol.  XL,  pp.  298-308,  1894.  Contains  an  annotated  list 
of  111  species. 

Ridgway,  Robert.  Birds  of  North  and  Middle  America.  U.  S.  Nat. 
Mus.,  Washington.  Pt.  I.,  1901.  Pt.  II.,  1902.  Contains  many  references 
to  Montana  localities. 

Ridgway,  Robert.  Rocky  Mountain  Pine  Grosbeak.  Auk,  Vol.  XV., 
1898,  p.  319.  Description  of  new  subspecies. 

Shaw,  W.  T.  The  American  Magpie.  The  Oologist,  "Vol.  X.,  pp.  211- 
212.  Locality  of  Bozeman,  Mont. 

Silloway,  P.  M.  Summer  Birds  of  Flathead  Lake.  Bull.  Univ.  of 
Mont,  Biol.  Ser.  No.  1,  1901.  An  annotated  list  of  128  species,  84  pp. 
with  16  plates. 


CLARKE'S  NUTCRACKER.-"CAMP  ROBBER." 
Photo  by  E.  R.  Warren. 


BIRDS   OF  FERGUS   COUNTY,   MONTANA  9 

Silloway,  P.  M.  Flathead  Lake  Findings.  The  Condor,  Vol.  III., 
pp.  4-7,  1901.  Description  of  nesting  habits  of  Audubon's  warbler  and 
Wright's  flycatcher,  with  two  plates. 

Silloway,  P.  M.  The  Sharp-shinned  Hawk.  Osprey,  Vol.  V.,  pp.  70- 
71,  1901.  Description  of  two  nests. 

Silloway,  P.  M.  Notes  on  McCown's  Longspur  in  Montana.  Os- 
prey,  Vol.  VI.,  pp.  42-44,  1902.  Description  of  nesting  habits. 

Silloway,  P.  M.  Notes  on  the  Long-billed  Curlew.  Condor,  Vol.  II., 
pp.  79-82,  1900.  Also,  Condor,  Vol.  IV.,  pp.  31-34,  1902. 

Silloway,  P.  M.  The  Holboell  Grebe  in  Montana.  Condor,  Vol. 
IV.,  pp.  128-131,  1902.  Description  of  nesting  habits. 

Silloway,  P.  M.  Montana  Magpies.  The  Oologist,  Vol.  XVII.,  pp. 
89-91,  1900.  Detailed  description  of -nests  and  eggs. 

Silloway,  P.  M.  Additional  Notes  to  the  Summer  Birds  of  Flat- 
head  Lake.  Univ.  of  Mont.  Bull.  Biol.  Ser.  No.  6,  Missoula,  1903. 

Silloway,  P.  M.  Notes  on  the  Leucostictes,  Gray-crowned  and  Hep- 
burn's. The  Wilson  Bulletin,  Vol.  X.,  pp.  1-4,  1903.  Winter  habits  of  the 
species. 

Silloway,  P.  M.  Lectures  Delivered  at  the  University  of  Montana 
Biological  Station,  1902.  Univ.  of  Mont.  Bull.  Biol.  Ser.  No.  5,  1903,  Mis- 
soula. 

Silloway,  P.  M.  A-Field  at  Flathead.  Condor,  Vol.  V.,  No.  6,  1903. 
Contains  notes  regarding  the  nesting  of  Holboell's  Grebe,  Townsend's  War- 
bler, Louisiana  Tanager,  Ruby-crowned  Kinglet. 

Thome,  Platte  M.  List  of  Birds  Observed  in  the  Vicinity  of  Ft. 
Keogh,  Montana,  from  July,  1888,  to  September,  1892.  Auk,  Vol.  XII.,  pp. 
211-219,  1895.  An  annotated  list  of  137  species. 

Thome,  Platte  M.  Phalaropus  lobatus  and  Phalaropus  tricolor. 
Auk,  Vol.  VI.,  p.  336,  1889.  Description  of  habits. 

Williams,  R.  S.  The  Breeding  Ranges  and  Songs  of  Three  Thrushes 
in  Montana.  Auk,  Vol.  VII.,  pp.  292-294,  1890. 

Williams,  R.  S.  A  Flock  of  Chen  rossii  East  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
Auk,  Vol.  III.,  p.  274,  1886. 

Williams,  R.  S.  Upper  Missouri  River  Birds.  Auk,  Vol.  V.,  pp.  14- 
18. 

Williams,  R.  S.  Some  Birds  of  the  Belt  Mountains,  Montana  Terri- 
tory. Bull.  Nutt.  Orn.  Club,  Vol.  VII.,  p.  62,  1882. 

Mearns,  Edgar  A.  Feathers  Beside  the  Styx.  Condor,  Vol.  V., 
1903,  pp.  36-38.  Contains  notes  regarding  birds  of  Yellowstone  Park. 


BIRDS  OF  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA.  11 

LIST  OF  BIRDS. 


4.     AMERICAN     EARED    GREBE.      Colymbus    nigricollis    californicus. 

This  grebe  is  not  uncommon  as  a  migrant  at  Lewistown,  though  it 
may  breed  in  suitable  localities  in  the  county.  My  first  record  of  its  oc- 
currence is  under  date  of  August  23,  1901,  when  a  solitary  young  bird  of 
the  year  was  taken  on  a  small  pond  near  my  home.  A  female,  taken  May 
2,  1903,  is  now  in  the  high  school  collection. 

It  is  likely  that  the  range  of  this  species  in  Montana  is  co-extensive 
with  the  state.  Dr.  Elliott  Coues  reports  taking  specimens  at  the  head- 
waters of  the  Milk  River  on  August  30.  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  took  a  specimen 
on  the  Yellowstone  in  September.  On  June  20,  1901,  I  noted  this  grebe  oa 
Sin-yale-a-min  Lake,  in  the  Mission  Mountains,  when  young  were  taken 
which  had  evidently  been  reared  on  the  lake. 

Distinguishing  features:  Width  of  bill  at  base  greater  than  depth; 
chest,  as  well  as  neck  and  head,  black;  a  tuft  of  yellowish-red  feathers  at 
side  of  head  back  of  the  eyes;  length  12-14  inches. 

6.     PIED-BILLED    GREBE.      Podilymbus    podiceps. 

A  regular  summer  resident.  Near  my  home,  in  the  edge  of  Lewis- 
town,  is  a  small  pond  formed  by  the  overflow  from  an  irrigation  ditch. 
This  pond  is  a  favored  resort  of  small  waterfowl  in  the  fall  and  spring, 
and  consequently  it  is  an  attractive  place  for  thoughtless  marksmen.  One 
day  in  the  fall  of  1901  I  counted  a  dozen  dead  grebes  lying  along  the 
shore  of  the  pond,  where  they  had  fallen  before  the  ruthless  slaughter  of 
gunners,  who  had  not  taken  the  trouble  to  pick  up  their  victims. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  brownish,  lower  parts  silvery 
white;  length  12-15  inches;  length  of  bill  along  its  upper  ridge  not  double 
the  depth  of  the  bill. 

51.     HERRING    GULL.      Larus    argentatus. 

The  herring  gull  is.  of  common  occurrence  along  the  Missouri  River 
in  this  section  of  Montana.  Dr.  Coues  mentions  a  specimen  shot  by  Mr. 
J.  H.  Beatty  near  Ft.  Benton,  Mont.,  and  in  his  "Birds  of  the  Northwest," 
he  says  that  he  found  this  species  on  the  Upper  Missouri. 

Distinguishing  features:     Upper  parts  pearl-gray,  eyelids  in  life  yel- 
low, feet  pale  flesh  color,  bill  bright  yellow.    Length  22-26  inches. 
54.     RING-BILLED  GULL.     Larus  delawarensis. 

On  Dec.  31,1898,  a  dead  gull  was  brought  to  me  for  identification.  It 
was  first  seen  eating  from  the  poisoned  carcass  of  a  sheep  baited  for 
coyotes.  After  flying  some  distance  when  disturbed,  the  gull  fell  to  the 
ground  and  soon  died.  It  proved  to  be  a  ring-billed  gull,  young  of  the  year, 
still  in  the  dark  grayish  plumage. 

Late  in  the  fall  of  1902,  a  fine  specimen  of  this  gull  was  taken  om 
Big  Spring  Creek  a  few  miles  below  Lewistown.  It  was  mounted,  and  now 
is  in  the  window  of  a  Lewistown  merchant. 

Distinguishing   features:      Upper   parts   light    pearl-gray,    eye-lids   in 


12          BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

life  vermillion-red,  feet  pale  yellow.     Young,  brownish-gray,  bill  brownish- 
black.     Length  18-20  inches. 

129.     AMERICAN    MERGANSER.      Merganser  americanus. 

The  American  merganser  occurs  regularly  along  the  larger  streams 
forming  the  northern  and  eastern  boundary  of  the  county,  as  well  as  at 
suitable  places  elsewhere.  Specimens  are  frequently  taken  near  Lewistown 
during  the  migrations.  Like  some  of  the  other  ducks,  this  species  lingers 
on  the  open  water  of  Big  Spring  Creek  till  hard  winter  has  begun.  On 
April  27,  1903,  I  noted  a  male  of  this  species  feeding  on  a  sand-bar  on  the 
creek  near  Lewistown. 

Distinguishing  features:  Male  with  head  greenish-black,  and  crest 
at  back;  lower  parts  creamy  white;  white  wing-coverts  with  a  prominent 
black  bar;  length  25-27  inches.  Female  with  head  and  neck  bright  brown, 
also  with  crest;  lower  parts  yellowish-white. 

131.     HOODED    MERGANSER.      Lophodytes   cucullatus. 

This  species  occurs  regularly  throughout  this  region,  and  according 
to  Dr.  Coues,  breeds  on  the  Upper  Missouri  River.  Near  Lewistown  it  is 
known  only  as  a  migrant,  the  conditions  being  unfavorable  to  a  residence 
throughout  the  summer. 

Distinguishing  features:  Male  with  black  head  and  neck,  w^th 
white  crest;  mostly  black  above,  with  white  lower  parts.  Female  with 
head  and  neck  grayish  brown,,  crest  reddish-brown;  lower  parts  white; 
length  17-19  inches. 

132.     MALLARD.     Anas   boschas. 

The  mallard  is  a  regular  summer  resident  of  this  region.  Along 
the  head-waters  of  Big  Spring  Creek,  which  remain  open  during  the  win- 
ter, mallards  have  been  seen  every  month  from  the  autumnal  to  the  vernal 
migration.  Many  pairs  are  reported  to  breed  along  the  Missouri  and  Mus- 
selshell  borders  of  the  county.  An  instance  of  a  mallard's  nesting  near 
the  electric  light  plant  was  reported  to  me  this,  spring. 

Distinguishing  features:      Male  with  head  and  neck  bright  metallic 
green,   chest  bright  reddish-brown,   speculum   of  wing  violet  bordered   by 
black   and   white  bars   before   and   behind;    length   20-25    inches.     Female 
generally  brownish,  varied  with  buffy  markings,  wings  like  the  male. 
135.     GADWALL.     Chaulelasmus  streperus. 

Known  to  me  only  as  a  migrant  of  regular  occurrence.  Dr.  Coues 
states  that  it  breeds  in  the  Milk  River  region  of  this  state,  and  further 
observation  may  disclose  the  fact  of  its  nesting  along  the  large  streams 
which  form  a  part  of  the  Fergus  county  boundary. 

Distinguishing  features:  Male  with  head  and  neck  dingy  white, 
speckled  with  black,  middle  wing-coverts  reddish-brown,  bordered  by 
Mack  and  white,  speculum  white,  bill  dark  blue,  legs  and  feet  orange- 
yellow;  length  19-22.  Female  generally  brownish,  wing  like  male  with 
colors  less  prominent. 

137.     BALDPATE.     Mareca  americana. 

Dr.  Coues  says  that  the  widgeon  (or  baldpate)  breeds  in  abundance 


ROCKY  MOUNTAIN  JAY—  "TALLOWHEAD. 
Photo  by  E.  R.  Warren. 


BIRDS  OP  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA.  13 

in  Northern  Dakota  and  Montana  along  the  banks  of  the  streams  and 
pools.  Regarding  its  breeding  in  this  county,  no  data  is  at  hand,  but  spec- 
imens are  frequently  taken  during  the  fall  migration  by  local  gunners. 

Distinguishing  features:  Male  with  head  and  neck  dingy  white 
speckled  with  black,  except  a  bar  of  metallic  green  extending  from  the  eye 
backward;  upper  and  lower  parts  generally  marked  with  waves  of  black: 
length  18-22  inches.  Female  with  darker  colors,  more  brownish  and  gray- 
ish. 

139.  GREEN-WINGED    TEAL.      Nettion    carolinensis. 

A  very  common  migrant,  appearing  from  the  north  toward  the  end 
of  August,  and  lingering  until  severe  weather  in  late  fall.  On  Dec.  5, 
1902,  during  freezing  weather,  specimens  of  green-winged  teal  were  taken 
near  Deerfield,  and  it  appears  that  some  of  these  ducks  remain  with  us 
all  winter.  It  is  likely  that  occasional  pairs  of  this  teal  breed  along  the 
Missouri  borders  of  the  county,  but  no  records  of  such  nesting  are  at  hand. 

Distinguishing  features:  Speculum  of  wing  bright  metallic  green, 
bordered  below  by  black  tipped  with  white;  length  12-15  inches.  Female 
somewhat  like  male,  colors  darker  and  less  prominent. 

140.  BLUE-WINGED    TEAL.      Querquedula    discors. 

A  very  common  migrant,  and  doubtless  an  occasional  breeder  at 
suitable  places  in  the  county  and  along  the  Missouri  and  Musselshell  bor- 
ders. The  blue-winged  teal  appears  in  its  southern  migration  about  the 
first  of  September,  and  is  noted  regularly  till  severe  weather  of  the  late 
fall. 

Distinguishing  features:  The  light  blue  markings  of  the  lesser  wing- 
coverts,  speculum  dark  green;  length  14-16  inches. 

142.     SHOVELLER.     Spatula   clypeata. 

Occurs  regularly  along  Big  Spring  Creek  in  the  migrations.  Dr. 
Coues  says  that  this  species  is  common  through  the  summer  in  Montana, 
along  the  Milk  River  and  its  tributaries.  It  has  been  taken  near  Lewis- 
town  in  the  early  part  of  October. 

Distinguishing  features:  Bill  spoon-shaped,  or  narrow  at  base  and 
broad  at  end;  male  with  head  and  neck  dark  green,  chest  white,  lower 
parts  chestnut;  wing-coverts  light  blue  tipped  with  white,  speculum  bright 
green  bordered  below  with  white;  length  17-21  inches.  Female  with  wing 
like  the  male,  other  colors  less  prominent. 

143.     PINTAIL.     Dafila  acuta. 

A  very  common  migrant  near  Lewistown.  Like  most  of  the  ducks 
mentioned  as  belonging  to  this  region,  the  pintail  is  reported  as  breeding  in 
the  Milk  River  district  of  Montana. 

Distinguishing  features:  Male  with  head  and  neck  brown,  shoulders 
black  bordered  with  white,  speculum  varying  metallic  green  and  purpte 
bordered  below  with  black  tipped  with'  white,  wing-coverts  with  a  bar  of 
reddish-brown;  length  25-30  inches.  Female  smaller,  with  colors  less  con- 
spicuous, wing  much  like  male.  . . .  ; 

146.     REDHEAD.     Aythya   americana. 

Not  uncommon  as  a  migrant,  though  observations  along  the  larger 


14  BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

rivers  might  show  that  it  is  of  more  common  occurrence.  In  his  notes 
regarding  the  occurrence  of  the  canvas-back,  Dr.  Coues  says  that  in  most 
of  the  Missouri  region,  the  canvas-back  is  not  so  common  as  the  redhead. 

Distinguishing  features:  In  the  male,  the  bright  chestnut-red  of  the 
head  extends  downward  to  the  middle  of  the  neck,  where  it  is  displaced 
by  the  black  of  the  chest  and  upper  parts;  belly  white,  unmarked;  length 
17-21  inches.  Female  has  sides  of  head,  neck,  and  lower  parts  dull  yellow- 
ish, lighter  below. 

147.     CANVAS-BACK.      Aythya   vallisneria. 

A  regular  migrant,  not  met  with  often  away  from  the  larger  rivers 
bordering  the  county. 

Distinguishing  features:  In  the  male,  the  reddish-brown  of  the 
head  extends  downward  over  the  whole  neck,  and  the  head  is  blackish 
on  top;  otherwise  similar  to  the  redfiead,  except  the  belly  is  marked  with 
fine  wavy  lines;  length  20-24  inches.  In  the  female,  the  shoulders  and  sides 
are  whitish. 

149.     LESSER  SCAUP  DUCK.     Aythya  affinis. 

Occurs  regularly  in  migration  along  the  prairie  streams.  Dr.  Elliott 
Coues  found  this  duck  breeding  in  numbers  along  the  Upper  Missouri  and 
Milk  River,  in  some  places  seemingly  more  abundant  than  any  other 
species.  Capt.  Platte  M.  Thorne  reports  this  species  as  rare  at  Ft.  Keogh. 

Distinguishing  features:  The  male  has  black  head,  neck,  and  chest, 
the  head  having  a  purplish  tinge;  speculum  white,  with  black  border  below; 
length  15-17  inches.  Female  with  brown  instead  of  black. 

151.     AMERICAN   GOLDEN-EYE.     Clangula  clangula  americana. 

A  common  migrant  along  the  larger  streams  of  this  region.  On  Dec.  6, 
1902,  a  specimen  was  brought  to  me  which  was  taken  on  the  Judith  River 
near  Deerfield.  The  American  golden-eye  doubtless  is  a  regular  breeder 
in  this  section  where  dead  trees  are  found  on  the  banks  of  the  streams,  as 
it  is  one  of  the  tree-nesting  ducks,  using  cavities  as  does  the  wood  duck. 

Distinguishing  features:     The  male  has  head  and  upper  part  of  neck 
black  tinged  with  green,  the  side  of  the  head  having  a  large  round  white 
spot;  large  white  wing-patch;  under  parts  white;  length  18-23  inches.     Fe- 
male with  brown  head,  grayish  chest,  somewhat  smaller  than  male. 
153.     BUFFLE-HEAD.     Charitonetta  albeola. 

A  regular  migrant  generally  in  the  county,  and  probably  breeding  oc- 
casionally along  the  Missouri  and  Musselshell.  Dr.  Coues  is  authority 
for  the  fact  of  its  breeding  along  Milk  River  and  its  tributaries. 

Distinguishing  features:  The  male  has  head  and  upper  part  of  neck 
metallic  green,  with  other  reflections,  and  large  white  spot  behind  eye ; 
lower  parts  and  wings  chiefly  white;  length  14-16  inches.  Female  with 
brown  instead  of  metallic  colors;  length  12-14  inches. 

167.     RUDDY   DUCK.     Erismatura  jamaicensis. 

The  ruddy  duck  occurs  regularly  during  the  migrations  in  suitable 
places  throughout  the  county.  Dr.  Coues  notes  its  presence  during  the 
breeding  season  in  Montana,  along  the  Milk  River  and  its  northern  trib- 
utaries. Capt.  Thorne  reports  it  rare  at  Ft.  Keogh. 


BIRDS  OF  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA.      ,  15 

Distinguishing  features:  The  male  has  upper  parts  bright  reddish 
brown,  with  sides  of  head  white;  lower  parts  whitish;  length  13-16  inches. 
Female  grayish  brown  above,  lower  parts  whitish. 

170.     ROSS'S  SNOW  GOOSE.     Chen   rossii. 

Occurs  regularly  in  migration.  A  small  flock  of  six  was  seen  on 
Big  Spring  Creek  a  few  miles  below  Lewistown  on  March  14,  1903.  Capt. 
Platte  M.  Thorne  reports  it  as  rare  at  Ft.  Keogh. 

Distinguishing  features:  Entire  head  and  part  of  neck  white;  other- 
wise whitish,  wings  with  black  markings;  length  20-26  inches. 

172.     CANADA    GOOSE.      Branta    canadensis. 

A  regular  migrant  throughout  the  county,  and  breeding  in  suitable 
localities.  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  reports  that  this  species  breeds  along  the  Mus- 
aelshell,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  broods  are  regularly  reared  along  the 
Missouri  river  border  of  the  county. 

On  the  spring  migration,  the  geese  often  appear  by  the  first  of 
March,  and  sometimes  they  linger  several  weeks  near  a  particular  field, 
feeding  early  in  the  morning  and  late  in  the  day,  and  resorting  to  the 
water  at  other  times. 

Distinguishing  features:  Head  black,  with  cheek-patches  of  white 
meeting  on  the  throat;  upper  parts  brown,  varied  with  gray;  lower  parts 
lighter;  length  34-44  inches. 

181.     TRUMPETER   SWAN.     Olor  buccinator. 

Occurs  regularly  throughout  the  county,  occasionally  breeding  in 
suitable  places.  A  friend  told  me  of  seeing  an  old  swan  and  a  young  one 
upon  the  "Highland"  lakes.  The  two  were  in  flight  between  the  lakes,  and 
the  cygnet  flew  only  a  few  feet  directly  above  the  elder,  so  that  it  could 
drop  on  the  parent's  back  at  frequent  intervals.  The  younger  swan  would 
fly  fifty  or  sixty  yards  alone,  then  drop  lightly  upon  the  parent's  back  to 
rest,  being  carried  for  fifty  to  sixty  yards  in  this  manner;  then  it  would 
rise  upon  its  own  pinions,  and  flap  along  above  the  elder  bird  until  it 
again  became  weary  of  its  own  exertions. 

Distinguishing  features:  White,  with  black  bill  and  cheeks;  length 
60-65  inches. 

190.     AMERICAN    BITTERN.      Botaurus   lentiginosus. 

The  American  bittern  is  found  regularly  throughout  the  county, 
though  nowhere  in  numbers.  On  May  19,  I  heard  an  individual  of  this 
species  in  a  bog  along  Big  Spring  Creek,  near  Lewistown,  uttering  its 
hoarse  "boo-hoo,  hoo"  notes  all  the  afternoon,  and  later  I  flushed  it  sev- 
eral times,  when  it  would  fly  to  another  part  of  the  bog  farther  along  the 
creek.  The  bittern  is  usually  solitary,  a  hermit  of  the  swamps,  lurking 
alone  in  the  reedy  tangle  to  glean  its  fare.  One  that  I  took  in  the  summer 
of  1901,  in  the  Flathead  region,  had  its  stomach  crammed  with  large  drag- 
on-flies, Eschna  constricta,  of  which  I  easily  counted  thirty,  besides  the 
crushed  fragments  of  many  others. 


1C  BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

Distinguishing  features:  Brownish  yellow,  varied  with  brown  and 
black  mottlings;  lower  parts  buffy,  with  brown  stripings;  length  24-35 
inches. 

194.     GREAT    BLUE    HERON.     Ardea   herodias. 

The  only  specimens  of  this  heron  that  I  have  observed  at  Lewistowu 
were  in  flight,  winging  their  way  far  overhead. 

Dr.  Elliott  Coues  reported  that  he  had  observed  this  species  far 
up  on  the  Missouri  River  in  October.  Chas.  W.  Richmond  and  F.  H. 
Knowlton  report  it  as  rather  common  in  south-central  Montana.  Platte 
M.  Thorne  notes  it  as  common  at  Ft.  Keogh,  on  the  Yellowstone,  in  the 
spring  and  fall,  and  he  thinks  that  some  remain  to  breed. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  bluish  gray,  lower  parts  var- 
ied with  dusky  and  white;  length  40-50  inches. 

206.     SANDHILL  CRANE.     Grus  mexicana. 

Formerly  a  common  migrant,  now  only  occasional.  Mr.  J.  M.  Croft, 
an  accurate  observer  of  the  birds  in  former  years,  tells  me  that  he  fre- 
quently took  specimens  of  the  sandhill  crane  on  Wolf  Creek,  in  this 
county. 

Distinguishing   features:      Slaty   gray   color,   length   40-50   inches. 

214.     SORA.     Porzana  Carolina. 

The  sora  occurs  regularly,  and  breeds  in  suitable  places  in  the  coun- 
ty. Mr.  J.  L.  Stuart  found  this  rail  nesting  on  his  former  ranch  near  the 
North  Moccasins. 

Specimens  of  the  sora  were  taken  in  the  breeding  season  in  Mon- 
tana by  Dr.  Elliott  Coues,  and  at  Ft.  Keogh  by  Capt.  Platte  M.  Thorne.  In 
the  spring  of  1902,  the  writer  found  the  sora  breeding  in  the  swamp  mead- 
ows at  Swan  Lake,  where  eggs  were  brought  in  by  men  who  were  cutting 
hay. 

The^se^t  appears  here  on  the  fall  migration  about  the  middle  of 
September. 

Distinguishing  features:  Front  part  of  head  and  throat,  black;  top 
of  head  brown,  striped  with  black;  other  upper  parts  brown,  with  black 
stripings;  length  8-10  inches. 

221.     AMERICAN    COOT.      Fulica   americana. 

Occurs  locally,  in  suitable  places,  and  nests  where  circumstances 
are  favorable  in  the  county.  Mr.  J.  A.  Allen  did  not  find  the  coot  common 
along  the  Musselshell,  but  Dr.  Coues  found  it  extremely  abundant  along  the 
northern  portions  of  the  state.  In  "Birds  of  Dakota  and  Montana,"  Dr. 
Coues  says  that  almost  all  the  pools  and  reedy  sloughs  of  the  prairie 
throughout  the  region  from  the  Red  River  to  the  Rocky  Mountains  and 
Upper  Missouri  country  generally  are  tenanted  by  one  or  more  pairs  of 
these  very  common-place  birds.  Capt.  Thorne  reports  the  American  coot 
as  common  and  breeding  at  Ft.  Keogh.  On  April  28,  1903,  I  took  a  male 
specimen  of  this  species  on  a  pond  near  Lewistown,  for  the  high  school 
collection. 


NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  WILLOW  THRUSH. 
Photo  by  M.  J.  Elrod. 


BIRDS  OP  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA  17 

Distinguishing  features:  Color  blackish  slate  or  leaden,  bill  white 
in  life;  length  13-16  inches. 

223.     NORTHERN    PHALAROPE.      Phalaropus   lobatus. 

Among  the  first  birds  seen  after  my  arrival  in  Lewistown,  was  a 
northern  phalarope.  It  was  on  a  small  pond  near  an  irrigating  ditch,  and 
was  with  several  lesser  yellowlegs,  'swimming  along  the  edge  of  the  water 
as  the  larger  birds  waded  near  it.  The  first  phalarope  I  had  seen,  I  has- 
tened  to  capture  it  for  positive  identification.  I  have  Tiot  seen  another 
since  in  this  locality.  Capt.  Thome  reports  this  phalarope  as  rare  at  Ft. 
Keogh. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  dark  leaden  blue,  varied  with 
pale  yellowisn  markings;  wings  dark,  the  coverts  tipped  with  white;  up- 
per part  of  breast  reddish  brown;  lower  parts  white;  length  7-8  inches; 
male  with  colors  duller  than  female;  toes  with  scalloped  membranes. 

224.     WILSON'S   PHALAROPE.     Steganopus  tricolor. 

In  his  "Birds  of  Dakota  and  Montana,"  based  upon  observations 
made  along  the  northern  boundary,  Dr.  Coues  says  that  Wilson's  phalaropa 
breeds  throughout  the  country,  from  the  Red  River  to  the  Rocky  mountains, 
and  in  suitable  places  it  is  common,  though  never  observed  in  large  num- 
bers at  any  one  place.  Capt.  P.  M.  Thome  reported  this  species  as  tol- 
erably common  at  Ft.  Keogh  in  May  and  June. 

Distinguishing  features:  Top  of  head  bluish  gray,  bordered  on  fore- 
head by  black;  back  part  of  neck  white,  sides  of  neck  black;  middle  of  back 
bluish  gray,  sides  of  back  reddish  brown;  upper  breast  yellowish  red; 
other  under  parts  white;  length  9-10  inches.  Male  with  colors  less  prom- 
inent. 

225.     AMERICAN    AVOCET.      Recurvirostra    americana. 

On  August  23,  1901,  a  flock  of  five  American  avocets  appeared  on 
p.  small  pond  in  the  edge  of  Lewistown.  Their  handsome  colors  and  state- 
ly movements  soon  attracted  my  attention,  for  they  were  the  first  avocets 
I  had  seen.  When  alighted,  they  stood  closely  together  in  orderly  array 
at  the  edge  of  the  water.  When  shot  at  with  a  small  rifle  they  manifested 
no  alarm,  and  two  of  them  were  taken  before  the  remainder  flew  away. 
Their  flight  is  much  like  that  of  the  ring-billed  gull,  with  projecting  head 
and  indrawn  neck,  the  legs  protruding  behind  when  the  birds  are  settled 
in  flight.  The  call  of  the  avocet  is  a  loud,  mellow  whistle,  uttered  quickly 
with  an  intonation  of  impatience  or  alarm.  This  species  is  often  spoken 
of  by  ranchers  as  the  little  white  crane.  It  appears  in  the  vicinity  of  Lew- 
istown on  the  spring  migration  about  the  end  of  April.  Capt.  Thorne 
notes  the  avocet  as  rare  at  Ft.  Keogh. 

Distinguishing  features:  Bill  curved  upward  toward  its  outer  end; 
head,  neck,  and  upper  part  of  breast  dark  brown;  upper  parts  chiefly 
white;  large  feathers  of  wing  brownish  black;  middle  of  back  white;  lower 
parts  white;  length  15-19  inches. 

230.     WILSON'S   SNIPE.     Gallinago   delicata. 

A   common   migrant,    and    doubtless    breeding   sparingly    in    suitable 


18  BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

places  in  the  county.  This  species  is  the  well  known  "jack  snipe"  of 
eastern  sportsmen.  It  appears  early  in  the  spring,  and  in  the  fall  it 
lingers  until  the  middle  of  October  or  later.  It  frequents  the  wet  mar- 
gins of  the  streams  and  the  boggy  spots  of  the  meadows.  Its  erratic,  zig- 
zag course  in  flight,  and  its  harsh  call  resembling  the  syllable  "scav,"  ut- 
tered as  it  wings  its  way  from  the  gunner  to  a  place  of  safety,  serve  to 
aid  the  novice  in  identifying  this  species. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  blackish,,  varied  with  light 
buffy  markings;  under  coverts  of  wings  conspicuously  barred  with  bluish 
gray;  length  10-12  inches. 

232.     LONG-BILLED    DOWITCHER.      Macrorhamphus    scolopaceus. 

Occurs  in  migration.  Dr.  Elliott  Coues  says  that  nowhere  did  he 
find  the  "gray-back"  so  abundant  as  in  the  alkali  region  along  the  Upper 
Missouri. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  chiefly  streaked  with  light 
reddish-brown  and  darker  colors;  lower  parts  chiefly  light  reddish-brown; 
rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  chiefly  white,  barred  with  darker;  tail  gray, 
barred  with  white;  length  11-13  inches. 

239.     PECTORAL   SANDPIPER.     Actodromas   maculata. 

A  common  migrant.  It  generally  appears  early  in  March,  and  clings 
to  the  edges  of  the  open  water-courses  for  several  weeks.  In  the  fall  it 
appears  early  in  August,  and  lingers  until  about  the  end  of  October.  On 
October  18,  1900,  a  single  specimen  was  taken  on  an  irrigating  ditch  in 
the  edge  of  Lewistown.  On  April  22,  1901,  a  solitary  pectoral  sandpiper 
was  observed  on  the  dry  bench  at  dusk,  where  it  was  feeding  from  a  heap 
of  refuse.  On  Feb.  22,  1903,  a  pectoral  sandpiper  was  noted  on  Big  Spring 
Creek  near  Lewistown.  This  species  is  commonly  known  hereabout  as 
the  "jacksnipe." 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  dark  buffy,  striped  with  black; 
lower  parts  white;  length  8-10  inches. 

241.     BAIRD'S    SANDPIPER.      Actodromas    bairdii. 

A  very  common  migrant,  appearing  in  this  locality  on  its  southward 
movement  about  the  first  of  September,  and  lingering  along  the  pond  shores 
until  the  middle  of  the  month. 

Distinguishing  features:     Upper  parts  spotted  with  brownish  black 
and  grayish  yellow;  lower  parts  below  chest  white;  length  7-8  inches. 
242.     LEAST    SANDPIPER.     Actodromas  minutilla. 

A  very  abundant  migrant,  lingering  for  several  weeks  in  suitable 
places.  A  solitary  individual  of  this  species  was  taken  on  a  small  pond 
near  my  home  at  Lewistown,  August  22.  The  next  day  a  flock  of  six  or 
seven  was  noted  on  the  pond.  They  were  lurking  in  the  grassy  margin  In 
preference  to  wading  in  the  water's  edge,  and  permitted  a  closer  approach 
than  other  sandpipers  except  the  spotted.  August  28,  least  sandpipers 
were  about  the  pond  in  small  numbers.  On  September  4,  I  noted  that  least 
sandpipers  were  in  greater  numbers.  When  watched,  they  huddle  In 
groups  of  five  or  six  on  a  little  weedy  point,  crouched  facing  the  wind. 


BIRDS  OF  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA.  19 

When  flushed,  they  fly  rapidly  in  irregular,  capricious  flight,  maintaining 
a  close  formation  as  a  flock,  and  uttering  a  hurried  twittering.  They  drop 
abruptly  to  alight.  When  feeding,  an  individual  will  frequently  utter  a 
quiet  chirp  greatly  like  that  of  the  song  sparrow.  When  one  is  flushed 
alone,  it  arises  obliquely  in  a  hurried,  dodging  movement,  sometimes 
mounting  to  a  considerable  height,  darting  here  and  there  as  though  seek- 
ing to  evade  an  invisible  pursuer,  and  uttering  its  sharp,  quick  call.  In  this 
flight  it  acts  very  much  like  Wilson's  snipe. 

Distinguishing  features'  Upper  parts  chiefly  streaked  and  edged 
with  black  brown  and  dull  yellowish;  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts 
brownish  black,  unmarked;  front  parts  brownish  white,  streaked;  lower 
parts  dull  white;  length  5-7  inches. 

246.     SEMIPALMATED    SANDPIPER.      Ereunetes    pusillus. 

Rare  in  migration,  occuring  chiefly  in  the  fall.  Capt.  Thome  reports 
jr.  common  in  spring  and  a  few  in  the  fall  at  Ft.  Keogh. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  grayish  brown  tinged  with 
yellowish-brown;  breast  streaked  with  darker  colors;  length  5-7  inches. 
Can  easily  be  distinguished  from  the  least  sandpiper  by  the  fact  that  all 
the  front  toes  are  united  by  webs  at  their  bases. 

254.     GREATER    YELLOW-LEGS.      Totanus    melanoleucus. 

A  very  common  migrant,  entering  this  region  from  the  north  soon 
after  the  middle  of  August,  and  lingering  on  the  pond  shores  till  the  mid- 
dle of  September.  It  is  generally  associated  with  its  smaller  congener, 
T.  flavipes,  in  the  ratio  of  one  to  three  or  four.  No  large  flocks  are  seen 
here,  as  small  troops  of  three  to  six  are  the  most  that  I  have  seen  at  one 
time.  This  yellow-legs  has  a  loud  mellow  whistle,  consisting  generally  of 
two  syllables,  which  closely  resembles  the  call  of  the  avocet. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  varied  with  blackish  gray 
and  dull  white;  throat  streaked  with  darker  color;  lower  parts  white, 
chiefly  barred  or  spotted:  length  12-15  inches. 

255.     YELLOW-LEGS.     Totanus   flavipes. 

A  very  common  migrant,  generally  associating  with  other  shore  birds, 
preferably  the  sandpipers  and  phalaropes.  The  yellow-legs  makes  its  ap- 
pearance from  the  north  soon  after  the  middle  of  August,  and  lingers  in 
suitable  places  until  the  middle  of  September. 

Distinguishing  features:  Like  the  greater  yellow-legs,  but  smaller, 
length  9-11  inches. 

256a.     WESTERN   SOLITARY  SANDPIPER.     Helodromas  solitaries  cinna- 

momeus. 

A  regular  migrant,  appearing  on  its  southward  movement  about  the 
end  of  the  third  week  of  August,  and  lingering  for  two  or  three  weeks, 
frequenting  the  pond  shores  and  edges  of  irrigating  ditches  and  marshy  lo- 
calities. It  has  the  same  "teetering"  motions  that  characterize  the  spotted 
sandpiper,  and  its  call  is  a  counterpart  of  the  "peet  weet"  uttered  by  its 
smaller  relative.  Its  flight  is  irregular  and  capricious,  and  in  alighting  it 
darts  abruptly  downward  to  the  place  where  it  wishes  to  feed. 


20  BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

Distinguishing    features:      Upper    parts    greenish     leaden,     speckled 
with  dull  white;  front  part  of  neck  streaked  with  darker;  length  7-9  inches. 
258a.     WESTERN    WILLET.      Symphemia    semipalmata    inornata. 

This  species  occurs  regularly  near  Lewistown  in  the  migrations.  On 
May  2,  1903,  I  took  a  fine  specimen  on  a  small  pond  just  beyond  the  limits 
ol  Lewistown.  Like  some  of  the  plovers  and  sandpipers,  the  willet  has  a 
habit  of  lifting  its  wings  above  its  back  upon  alighting,  showing  the  white 
bands  which  aid  in  identification  of  this  species.  Dr.  Coues  observed  the 
willet  at  various  points  from  the  Red  River  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and 
states  that  it  breeds  in  this  region.  Capt.  Platte  M.  Thorne  states  that  at 
Ft.  Keogh  this  species  is  rather  rare  in  spring.  Its  occurrence  at  Moreland, 
south-central  Montana,  August  19,  is  noted  by  Messrs.  Richmond  and 
Knowlton. 

Distinguishing  features:     Upper  parts  brownish  gray,  with  numerous 
spots   of   darker;    lower   parts    chiefly   white;    sides   and    flanks   yellowish 
brown,  varied  with  darker;  long  wing  feathers  black — broadly  marked  with 
white;   bill  black;   tarsus  and  feet  leaden;    length  15-17  inches. 
261.     BARTRAMIAN    SANDPIPER.      Bartramia    longicauda. 

This  fine  sandpiper  occurs  regularly  in  the  prairie  districts  of  the 
county,  but  is  of  somewhat  local  distribution.  A  few  pairs  spend  the 
summer  on  the  benches  near  Lewistown,  where  the  prolonged  indrawn 
whistle  of  the  so-called  plover  serves  to  attract  attention  to  its  presence. 
West  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  I  found  the  Bartramian  sandpiper  very  lo- 
cally distributed  in  the  Flathead  region,  in  colonies  of  only  a  few  families. 
Capt.  Thorne  reports  its  breeding  commonly  on  the  elevated  prairies  near 
Ft.  Keogh. 

Distinguishing    features:      Upper     parts     light    brown,     varied    with 
blackish  markings;  lower  parts  dull  white;  length  11-13  inches. 
263.     SPOTTED    SANDPIPER.      Actitis    macularia. 

A  very  common  frequenter  of  the  streamsides  in  summer,  appearing 
generally  during  the  second  week  of  May,  and  bginning  to  nest  before  the 
end  of  the  month.  On  June  4,  1901,  I  found  a  set  of  four  eggs  more  than 
one-half  incubated,  in  a  nest  made  in  a  recess  on  a  sloping  bank  of  a  small 
pond.  It  is  a  prolific  breeder,  rearing  several  broods  in  a  season  and  thus 
prolonging  the  nesting  season  nearly  through  July.  Soon  after  its  young 
are  a-wing  this  sandpiper  concludes  its  northern  sojourn,  and  it  is  seldom 
seen  after  the  middle  of  August.  This  species  is  easily  identified  by  its 
"teetering"  movements  when  standing  or  walking;  also  by  its  loud,  clear 
call  resembling  the  syllables  "peet  weet." 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  grayish-brown,  tail  tipped 
white;  lower  parts  chiefly  white,  marked  with  blackish  spots;  length  7-8 
inches. 

264.     LONG-BILLED    CURLEW.      Numenius    longlrostris. 

This  interesting  species  is  found  in  abundance  throughout  this  reg- 
ion, inhabiting  the  dry  prairies  from  the  middle  of  April  to  the  middle  of 
September.  The  first  curlews  of  the  season  are  generally  noted  by  me 


WESTERN  VESPER  SPARROW. 
Photo  by  E.  R.  Warren. 


BIRDS  OP  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA  21 

about  the  20th  of  April,  though  it  is  not  usually  convenient  for  me  to  note 
their  first  appearance  on  the  adjoining  prairie,  and  others  sometimes  report 
them  before  I  see  them.  Their  appearance  is  the  signal  for  local  gunners 
to  go  a-field,  and  the  birds  suffer  somewhat  from  their  hands  until  the  be- 
ginning of  the  nesting  season.  However,  the  curlews  soon  become  wary, 
and  it  is  difficult  to  get  near  enough  to  them  to  secure  large  bags.  As 
they  feed  abundantly  on  the  grasshoppers  and  other  noxious  insects  that 
lurk  in  the  prairie  herbage,  the  curlews  ought  to  be  protected  during  the 
spring  season,  at  least. 

During  the  mating  or  pre-nuptial  season,  the  curlews  are  noisy  and 
restless,  moving  from  one  part  of  a  favorite  pasture  to  another  and  utter- 
ing their  loud  calls  just  before  alighting,  or  feeding  restlessly  alone  within 
call  of  the  mate  or  fellows.  They  manifest  a  tendency  to  associate  in 
pairs,  though  the  paired  birds  are  not  inseparable  and  do  not  feed  side 
by  side.  In  the  mating  season,  when  one  bird  changes  its  station,  the 
other  of  the  pair  is  likely  to  follow  in  a  few  moments.  The  loud,  prolonged 
whistle  of  the  curlews  will  call  attention  to  them,  whether  on  the  ground 
c<r  a-wing,  warning  the  observer  that  his  presence  is  known  and  that  his 
movements  will  be  watched  with  the  closest  interest. 

A  pair  of  curlews  frequently  present  a  pretty  sight  when  sailing 
in  company  upward  abreast  of  the  wind,  moving  in  perfect  accord  on 
wide-spread,  motionless  pinions  curved  gently  downward,  within  several 
feet  of  each  other,  then  fluttering  downward  side  by  side  or  one  in  advance 
of  the  .other,  again  to  sail  upward  together,  uttering  the  characteristic 
whistles.  The  male  is  extremely  jealous  in  watching  over  his  claimed  do- 
main, in  evidence  of  which  I  once  saw  a  curlew  swoop  down  upon  an 
unoffending  ferruginous  rough-leg  that  chanced  to  wander  over  the  favorite 
portion  of  the  curlew's  home.  Time  and  again  the  curlew  swooped  down 
upon  the  big  Archibueto  as  the  latter  flapped  heavily  along  the  edge  of  a 
"coulee,"  and  the  place  resounded  with  the  shrill  whistling  of  the  angry 
curlew. 

The  male  curlew  is  a  most  jealous  guardian  of  the  premises  near  the 
nest.  When  the  female  is  sitting  on  her  eggs,  the  male  will  denote  a 
watchful  interest  in  the  movements  of  anyone  who  is  within  several  hun- 
dred yards  of  the  nest.  At  such  times  he  will  come  flying  from  some 
quarter  of  the  pasture,  and  with  angry  cackling  will  alight  near  the  dis- 
turber, impatiently  feeding  and  watching  the  movements  of  the  one  threat- 
ening the  peace  of  his  household.  If  the  observer  approaches  nearer  the 
nest,  the  male  will  bgin  to  fly  at  him  in  a  straight  course,  turning  upward 
abruptly  with  a  loud  whiff  of  wings  when  it  seems  that  the  disturber  must 
certainly  be  struck  by  the  determined  defender  of  his  home.  The  nest 
may  still  be  more  than  a  hundred  yards  byond  the  observer.  In  the  ma- 
jority of  instances,  it  lies  ahead  in  the  line  the  male  points  in  his  flight. 
As  the  disturber  gets  nearer,  the  male  shows  more  distress 
and  flutters  wildly  overhead,  flying  at  the  disturber  from  every  direction, 
though  not  from  long  distances  as  before.  All  the  while  the  female  is  sit- 


22  BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

ting  unconcerned  on  her  eggs,  indifferent  to  the  angry  and  distressed  cac- 
kling of  her  spouse.  Perhaps  by  this  time  a  half  dozen  or  more  other  males 
have  joined  in  the  outcry,  and  frequently  one  of  these  allies  will  try  to  mis- 
lead the  disturber. 

The  female  sits  very  closely  upon  her  eggs,  flattening  herself  upon 
them  in  such  a  manner  that  she  resembles  a  dead  chicken  lying  on  the 
ground.  When  flushed  from  the  nest,  she  will  fly  low  for  thirty  or  forty 
feet,  or  flutter  from  the  nest  and  run  awkwardly  for  a  short  distance,  feign- 
ing to  be  crippled.  Frequently  she  will  lower  her  head,  with  bill  almost 
touching  the  ground,  and  run  along  in  a  shame-faced  manner.  Before  the 
nest  is  discovered,  the  males  who  are  aiding  to  mislead  the  observer  will 
sometimes  act  in  this  shame-faced  way. 

The  site  of  the  nest  may  be  anywhere  on  the  boundless  prairie, 
though  most  of  the  nests  I  have  examined  were  on  long  slopes  in  the 
vicinity  of  dry  water-holes  or  water-courses.  Though  the  curlews  are 
somewhat  gregarious  and  social  in  their  habits,  the  nests  are  widely  scat- 
tered over  the  area  frequented,  and  there  is  no  suggestion  of  community 
in  nesting. 

Nest  No.  1,  1900,  was  found  on  May  28.  It  was  made  in  a  slight 
depression  beside  dried  cow  dung,  the  chief  substance  used  being  dried 
weed-tops.  The  cavity  was  eight  inches  across  at  the  top,  and  two  inches 
deep.  The  brim  of  the  nest  was  elevated  an  inch  and  a  half  above  the 
surroundings.  There  were  four  eggs,  slightly  incubated,  which  were  placed 
with  large  end  outward  from  the  middle  of  the  nest.  The  site  was  on  the 
highest  portion  of  an  extensive  pasture  in  the  neighborhood  of  a  small 
stream. 

Nest  No.  2,  1900,  was  found  on  May  29.  It  was  on  the  high  prairie, 
a  half  mile  from  a  dry  water-hole.  It  was  made  beside  a  pile  of  dried  cow 
"chips,"  well  made  like  No.  1,  the  cavity  being  seven  inches  across  and 
two  inches  deep.  This  nest  was  made  of  a  scanty  amount  of  dried  grass, 
and  the  brim  was  elevated  an  inch  above  the  surroundings.  The  four 
eggs  were  placed  with  small  ends  together  in  the  middle  of  the  nest. 
They  were  found  to  be  slightly  incubated. 

Nest  No.  3,  1900,  contained  four  eggs  advanced  in  incubation  on 
May  30.  It  was  on  the  prairie  near  the  base  of  a  long  gradual  slope  between 
shallow  depressions.  In  construction  and  measurements  this  nest  was 
similar  to  the  others  just  described. 

Nest  No.  4,  1900,  was  found  on  May  31,  and  contained  four  eggs 
far  advanced  in  incubation.  It  was  in  a  low  portion  of  a  meadow  leading 
down  to  an  irrigating  ditch,  and  was  made  among  grass  stems,  beside 
scattered  cow  chips.  The  construction  and  size  were  usual. 

In  1901,  I  examined  eight  nests  of  the  long-billed  curlew  between 
May  29  and  June  4,  inclusive.  In  the  most  of  these  small  pellets  of  driod 
eow  chips  were  a  part  of  the  nest  material.  All  these  nests  contained 
four  eggs,  or  four  young  just  emerging  from  the  shell,  and  all  were  typical 
in  the  matters  recorded  in  the  foregoing  accounts. 

In  1902,  circumstances  allowed  me  to  give  time  to  the  curlews  ear- 


BIRDS  OF  B^ERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA.  2* 

Her  in  the  season,  and  on  May  13  the  first  nest  was  examined.  It  was  in 
a  depression  near  a  shallow  water-hole.  The  site  was  between  two  partial 
heaps  of  dried  manure.  The  only  nest  material  was  soft  dried  grass,  with 
which  the  depression  was  comfortably  lined,  the  rim  as  usual  having  the 
thickest  lining.  The  four  eggs  in  this  nest  were  quite  fresh. 

On  May  17,  1902,  I  found  a  nest  of  the  long-billed  curlew  in  the  same 
locality  as  that  of  the  foregoing.  It  was  in  a  depression  between  scattered 
cow  chips,  and  was  made  of  dried  grass  and  small  lumps  of  dried  manure. 
This  nest  held  four  fresh  eggs,  placed  as  usual. 

The  eggs  of  this  species  vary  considerably  in  color  and  size.  In  one 
pattern  the  ground  is  light  greenish  olive,  with  irregular  blotches  of  dark 
umber  and  chocolate.  Another  pattern  is  much  rustier  in  appearance,  both 
in  ground  color  and  in  markings.  In  length  they  vary  from  2.70  inches 
to  2.40  inches,  and  in  width  from  2.00  inches  to  1.80  inches. 

After  the  nesting  season,  the  curlews  renew  their  gregarious  habits, 
associating  on  the  prairies  in  small  flocks,  of  which  I  have  not  seen  any 
of  more  than  twenty-five  or  thirty  individuals.  Toward  nightfall  the  cur- 
lews resort  to  the  water.  By  the  middle  of  September  they  have  termi- 
nated their  stay  among  us  for  the  season. 

Distiguishing  features:  Upper  parts  pale  reddish-brown,  irregularly 
tinged  with  grayish  and  varied  with  black;  lower  parts  paler;  length  20- 
26  inches.  Easily  identified  by  its  long  bill  curved  downward  toward  the 
outer  end. 

266.     ESKIMO    CURLEW.      Numenius   borealis. 

No  data  of  my  own  are  at  hand  regarding  the  Eskimo  curlew,  but 
Dr.  Coues  cites  several  Upper  Missouri  records,  and  there  is  no  doubt 
that  Fergus  county  is  in  the  line  of  migration  of  the  species.  Further  ob- 
servation may  even  disclose  the  fact  of  its  nesting  in  this  region,  as  Dr. 
J.  G.  Cooper  reports  its  breeding  near  Ft.  Benton. 

Distinguishing  features:  Like  the  long-billed  curlew;  breast  marked 
with  v-shaped  spots;  much  smaller;  length  12-15  inches. 

272.     AMERICAN    GOLDEN    PLOVER.     Charadrius   dominicus. 

A  regular  migrant,  seen  more  frequently  in  the  eastern  portions  of 
the  county  than  in  the  western.  Dr.  Chas.  E.  McChesney  reports  the 
golden  plover  as  a  migrant  in  the  Big  Horn  region. 

Distinguishing  features:      Upper  parts   mottled   black   and  white  or 
dull   yellowish;    lower   parts   chiefly   black;    head   and   neck   marked   with 
white;  length  9-11  inches.    This  plover  has  no  hind  toe. 
273.     KILLDEER.     Oxyechus   vociferus. 

A  very  common  summer  resident  along  the  streams  and  pond 
shores.  The  first  individuals  arrive  about  the  middle  of  March,  and  the 
latest  to  depart  are  seen  about  the  end  of  September. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  grayish-brown;  fore-head,  chin, 
throat,  collar,  and  lower  parts,  white;  head  and  neck  varied  with  black; 
length  10-11  inches.  Easily  identified  by  its  characteristic  call  resembling 
the  word  "killdeer." 


24  BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

281.     MOUNTAIN    PLOVER.     Podasocys   montanus. 

The  mountain  plover  is  a  regular  resident  of  the  prairies  in  this 
locality,  and  is  doubtless  found  in  most  parts  of  the  county.  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen 
found  it  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Musselshell,  and  Dr.  Coues  met  with 
it  throughout  most  of  northern  Montana.  It  generally  appears  in  this  lo- 
cality in  the  last  week  of  May,  taking  its  place  on  the  prairies  with  the 
long-billed  curlew,  McCown's  longspur,  and  western  meadowlark,  though 
in  far  less  numbers  than  any  of  its  associates.  Its  nesting  is  well-known  to 
many  of  the  ranchers,  but  it  has  not  been  my  fortune  to  chance  upon  its 
home.  The  mountain  plover  generally  disappears  by  the  first  of  Septem- 
ber, but  is  frequently  seen  later,  usually  in  small  flocks  which  are  formed 
preparatory  to  the  fall  migration. 

Distinguishing    features:      Upper     parts     grayish-brown,     irregularly 
tinged  with  dull  yellowish;   under  parts  dull  white,  frequently  tinged  with 
yellowish  on  the  breast;  length  8-9  inches. 
297b.     RICHARDSON'S    GROUSE.      Dendragapus    obscurus    richardsonii. 

This  species  is  the  common  "blue  grouse"  of  the  mountains  in  the 
western  and  south-western  portions  of  the  county.  It  is  also  found  gen- 
erally in  the  Moccasins  and  in  the  Judith  Mountains.  In  the  early  part  of 
June,  1901,  a  friend  reported  a  nest  in  the  North  Moccasins,  made  beside 
a  fallen  log  in  the  woods,  containing  seven  eggs.  The  nest  was  constructed 
of  a  few  dried  leaves  and  pine  needles.  The  female,  when  disturbed  by 
the  observer,  showed  little  alarm  and  merely  moved  aside  a  few  steps  while 
he  was  near  the  nest. 

On  Oct.  5,  1902,  a  fine  specimen  of  this  grouse,  which  had  flown  into 
town  and  had  been  killed  by  striking  itself  against  a  porch  of  a  house, 
was  brought  to  me.  On  Oct.  25,  1902,  while  in  the  Big  Snowy  Mountains, 
I  took  a  pair  of  these  grouse,  whose  crops  were  full  of  buffalo-berries. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  brownish  gray  or  bluish  gray, 
tail  darker;  lower  parts  dark  bluish  gray  varied  with  white;  length  19-23 
inches.  Easily  identified  by  its  twenty  tail-feathers. 

300b.     GRAY   RUFFED   GROUSE.     Bonasa   umbeilus   umbelloides. 

A  common  resident  of  the  wooded  localities,  generally  inhabiting  the 
coulees  in  the  vicinity  of  the  water-courses. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  mottled  with  black,  brown,  and 
gray,  the  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  marked  with  heart-shaped  spots  of 
dull  gray;  tail  barred  with  gray  and  black,  with  a  broader  band  near  the 
end;  black  neck-tufts;  lower  parts  varied  white  and  yellowish-brown; 
length  15-19  inches.  Commonly  known  as  pheasant. 

308a.     COLUMBIAN      SHARP-TAILED     GROUSE.       Pedioecetes      phasian- 

ellus  columbianus. 

A  very  common  resident  of  the  prairie  regions  and  the  foot-hills, 
preferring  the  ranches  and  the  hillsides  near  the  water-courses.  During 
the  coldest  weather  of  winter  these  grouse  congregate  in  large  flocks,  re- 
sorting to  the  timber  in  the  creek  bottoms  and  coulees.  They  are  gre- 
garious until  toward  the  end  of  April,  when  the  pairs  begin  to  look  forward 


WHITE-RUMPED  SHRIKE. 
Photo  by  E.  R.  Warren. 


BIRDS  OP  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA  25 

to  their  home-keeping  affairs.  The  eggs  are  generally  laid  in  the  early  part 
of  May,  usually  from  the  tenth  or  twelfth  of  the  month,  until  the  full  set 
is-  deposited.  This  grouse  is  commonly  known  as  "chicken"  or  "prairia 
chicken." 

The  nests  of  the  sharp-tailed  grouse  that  I  have  examined  were  in 
tangled  patches  of  low  weeds  or  rose  bushes  near  irrigating  ditches,  some- 
times on  the  immediate  borders  of  the  ditch.  Usually  there  is  nothing  to 
mark  the  site  of  the  nest,  as  it  is  made  among  upright  stems  where  one 
part  of  the  environment  looks  much  like  any  other  part. 

The  first  nest  of  the  Columbian  sharp-tailed  grouse  that  I  ever  found 
was  on  May  19,  1900.  It  was  in  tangled  weeds  along  a  ditch,  and  was  cov- 
ered somewhat  by  fallen  weed-stems,  among  rose-sprouts  and  grass.  I 
should  not  have  "discovered  it  if  it  had  not  been  revealed  by  the  female. 
She  sat  so  closely  that  I  was  standing  beside  the  nest,  having  partially 
passed  it,  and  I  had  turned  to  watch  a  sparrow  singing  in  the  adjacent 
bushes,  when  she  fluttered  out  of  the  grass  at  my  feet.  She  fluttered 
through  the  grass  at  one  side,  uttering  the  usual  "kuh,  kuh"  cries  of 
alarm.  The  nest  was  in  a  depression  bedded  with  dried  grass,  the  ten  eggs 
being  in  two  layers,  seven  below  and  the  remainder  in  an  upper  row.  The 
lower  part  of  the  nest  cavity  was  six  inches  in  diameter  and  two  inches 
deep.  The  eggs  were  nearly  fresh.  Their  prevailing  color  was  that  of 
creamed  coffee,  and  -several  of  them  had  a  fresh  bloom  like  that  of  ripening 
plums.  Most  of  the  eggs  were  unmarked,  the  others  having  minute  black 
specks  scarcely  discernible. 

O.n  May  24,  1900,  I  found  a  nest  of  this  grouse,  in  a  neglected  weed- 
patch  beside  a  small  water-course.  The  nest  was  in  a  depression  among 
upright  sprouts,  and  was  made  of  a  few  dried  grasses,  sparsely  lined  with 
soft  feathers.  The  cavity  was  eight  inches  by  six  inches,  two  inches  deep. 
There  were  eleven  fresh  eggs. 

On  May  28,  1901,  I  found  two  nests  of  the  Columbian  sharp-tailed 
grouse  in  a  weed-patch,  the  nests  being  not  more  than  a  hundred  yards 
apart.  Both  were  made  of  dried  grass  and  scantily  lined  with  feathers. 
Each  nest  contained  fourteen  fresh  eggs.  On  June  4,  1901,  a  nest  was 
shown  me  containing  fifteen  eggs,  upon  which  the  female  was  sitting  so 
closely  that  she  might  have  been  lifted  from  the  nest. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  spotted  and  barred  with 
brown,  black,  and  light  tawny;  lower  parts  white,  with  v-shaped  spots; 
length  15-19  inches. 

309.     SAGE  GROUSE.     Centrocercus  urophasianus. 

This  resident  of  the  sage  brush  region  is  found  in  abundance  in 
the  eastern  portions  of  tfTe  county.  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  reports  that  they  werg 
more  or  less  common  along  the  Musselshell.  Dr.  Coues,  in  his  "Birds  of 
Dakota  and  Montana,"  says  that  the  sage  grouse  were  not  noticed  west  and 
north  of  the  mouth  of  Milk  River,  as  the  country  there  seems  too  open 
for  them. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  varied  with  gray,  black,  dull 
yellowish,and  white;  front  part  of  the  throat  spotted  with  black  and  white; 


26          BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

front  part  of  neck,  bordered  by  white;  lower  parts  black,  bordered  by  white; 
length  25-30  inches. 

315.     PASSENGER    PIGEON.      Ectopistes   migratorius. 

Though  no  record  is  at  hand  regarding  the  present  occurrence  of 
the  passenger  pigeon  in  Fergus  County,  there  is  excellent  authority  for 
including  the  species  in  the  list  of  birds  of  the  county.  In  "Birds  of  the 
Northwest,"  Dr.  Coues  says:  "As  the  Missouri  forms  for  us  a  highway  of 
communication  with  the  vast  districts  which  would  be  otherwise  almost  inac- 
cessible, so  it  seems  to  lead  the  pigeons  northwesterly,  in  great  numbers,  to 
meridians  of  longitude  they  do  not  gain  in  the  southwest.  I  never  saw  or 
heard  of  one  in  New  Mexico  or  Arizona,  and  have  found  no  quotations 
from  Colorado,  Utah,  or  California.  But  the  birds  reach  across  Nebraska, 
probably  following  the  Platte  into  Wyoming,  and  through  Dakota  and  Mon- 
tana, being  even  conducted  to  Pacific  slopes  along  the  northern  border  of 
the  United  States." 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  drab;  head,  neck,  and  rump 
leaden;  neck  showing  changeable  metallic  tints;  chest  and  sides  reddish- 
brown;  other  under  parts  white;  length  15-18  inches. 

316.     MOURNING    DOVE.      Zenaidura    macroura. 

A  regular  summer  resident  of  this  region,  arriving  from  the  south 
toward  the  latter  part  of  April,  and  thence  adding  its  soft  cooing  to  the 
swelling  chorus  of  wildwood  voices.  In  this  neighborhood  it  frequents  the 
thickets  along  the  water-courses,  as  the  dry  prairies  appear  to  offer  little 
attractions  to  it.  In  the  eastern  portions  of  the  county  the  mourning  dove 
appears  to  be  more  widely  distributed.  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  says  that  it  was 
abundant  everywhere,  particularly  near  the  streams.  Dr.  C.  E.  McChesney 
says  that  at  Fort  Custer  he  would  daily  see  hundreds  in  the  woods.  Capt. 
Thorne  found  it  common  at  Ft.  Keogh,  and  Messrs.  Richmond  and  Knowl- 
ton  report  it  as  very  common  in  south-central  Montana.  I  did  not  find 
ic  abundant  anywhere  in  the  Flathead  Lake  region. 

Distinguishing   features:      Upper   parts   brown,   with   a  bluish   tinge; 
head  and  neck  glossed   with   changeable  metallic  tints;    lower   parts   soft 
drab,  changing  to  pale  buff  on  posterior  parts;   length  11-13  inches. 
331.     MARSH   HAWK.     Circus  hudsonius. 

The  marsh  hawk  appears  to  be  very  generally  distributed  over  the 
county.  It  generally  arrives  from  the  south  early  in  April,  and  thence 
can  be  observed  quartering  over  the  meadows  of  the  bottoms  and  over  the 
higher  prairies  in  search  of  its  quarry.  By  the  end  of  April  the  pair  have 
decided  on  a  suitable  site  for  their  home,  and  can  often  be  seen  hovering 
over  it  or  hunting  in  the  immediate  locality.  On  May  18,  1901,  I  examined 
«  small  weed-patch  along  Big  Casino,  where  I  had  seen  a  pair  of  marsh 
hawks  at  almost  every  visit  to  the  neighborhood,  and  I  soon  found  the  nest. 
The  male  became  quite  threatening  as  I  approached  the  place,  and  led 
me  to  it  by  flying  over  the  nest  and  uttering  his  cries,  to  which  the  sitting 
female  responded  by  shrill  whistles.  On  that  day  the  nest  contained  one 
egg.  Re-visiting  the  nest  on  May  25,  I  found  five  eggs.  The  female,  after 


BIRDS  OF  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA  27 

being  flushed,  flew  about  overhead  uttering  cries  like  the  syllable  "ki"  re- 
peated five  or  six  times  in  series,  which  is  similar  to  the  cries  of  the  male. 
This  nest  was  about  three  inches  off  the  ground,  among  rank  rose-bushes, 
and  was  made  of  coarse  weed-stems,  lined  with  softer  dried  grass.  The 
cavity  was  seven  inches  across,  and  one  and  one-half  inches  deep.  The 
eggs  are  very  pale  greenish  blue,  unmarked. 

On  May  30,  1903,  I  found  a  nest  of  the  marsh  hawk  iu  a  weed-patch 
on  Big  Casino  about  four  miles  from  Lewistown.  It  was  made  of  soft  dried 
grass,  the  heap  being  ten  inches  across  and  two  inches  high.  The  cavity 
was  seven  inches  in  diameter  and  one  inch  in  depth.  There  were  five 
eggs  in  the  nest,  dirty  white  and  soiled  by  the  feet  of  the  sitting  bird,  for 
the  eggs  were  far  advanced  in  incubation.  The  male  of  this  pair  was  one 
of  the  handsomest  hawks  I  ever  saw,  being  in  clear  light  blue  plumage, 
with  prominent  black  wing  markings.  He  was  sitting  on  guard  near  the 
nest,  on  the  ground,  and  when  I  drew  near  the  nest  he  flew  overhead  utter- 
ing a  cry  consisting  of  the  syllable  "ka"  with  the  a  short,  or  like  the  syl- 
lable "ke,"  in  series  of  four  or  five.  When  the  female  was  flushed,  after 
I  was  about  six  feet  from  her,  she  joined  the  male  in  flying  overhead,  ut- 
tering a  cry  like  "ki"  or  "ke"  in  series.  When  I  left  the  place  and  had  gone 
some  distance,  the  female  settled  on  the  nest  as  if  the  eggs  were  yet 
there,  and  remained  sitting  as  long  as  I  had  time  to  watch  them. 

The  aerial  movements  of  this  hawk  are  very  interesting.  In  the 
mating  and  early  nesting  season,  when  the  male  is  passing  above  his 
chosen  one  while  she  is  sitting  on  the  ground  or  brooding  her  eggs,  he  will 
perform  a  series  of  wonderful  evolutions,  falling  headforemost  in  space 
until  his  back  is  underneath,  or  whirling  over  several  times  in  a  peculiar 
side-movement,  always  promptly  regaining  his  balance  and  repeating  the 
performance  with  suitable  variations,  perhaps  thus  tumbling  and  fluttering 
in  space  for  many  minutes. 

Except  for  the  first  few  days  after  its  arrival  from  the  south,  it  is 
unusual  to  see  this  hawk  sitting  in  a  tree.  It  oftener  sits  on  the  ground, 
stopping  thus  frequently  as  it  quarters  over  the  meadows.  Especially  when 
the  nest-site  has  been  selected,  and  while  the  female  is  sitting,  the  male 
spends  many  minutes  at  some  convenient  look-out  on  the  ground  near  the 
place. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  light  bluish  gray;  lower  parts 
chiefly  white,  marked  with  spots  of  varying  brown;  the  chief  distinguishing 
mark  is  the  white  upper  tail  coverts  which  show  plainly  in  flight;  length 
19-24  inches. 

332.     SHARP-SHINNED    HAWK.     Accipiter  velox. 

In  this  locality  the  sharp-shinned  hawk  manifests  a  somewhat  retir- 
ing disposition,  keeping  to  the  thickets  along  the  water-courses,  in  which 
it  can  find  easy  prey  among  the  smaller  birds  that  frequent  the  thickets, 
and  where  it  can  rear  its  brood  without  molestation.  Though  not  noted  in 
any  abundance,  it  occurs  regularly  throughout  this  region,  appearing  to  be 
more  common  than  Cooper's  hawk.  One  June  6,  1900,  I  found  a  nest  of  this 
hawk  in  a  thicket  along  Big  Spring  Creek,  near  Lewistown.  It  was  made 


28  BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

of  coarse  twigs,  in  a  crotch  of  a  haw  tree,  the  brim  of  the  nest  being  only 
nine  feet  from  the  ground.  The  structure  varied  between  ten  and  twelve 
inches  in  width  and  the  cavity  was  one  and  one-half  inches  deen.  No  lining 
had  been  made  to  the  nest.  It  contained  four  eggs.  They  are  extremely 
handsome,  being  a  very  light  greenish  blue,  heavily  blotched  with  very 
dark  brown. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  bluish  gray,  darker  on  top  of 
head;  tail  crossed  by  dark  bands;  lower  parts  whitish,  the  breast  and 
sides  streaked  with  dark  brown;  length  10-12  inches. 

333.     COOPER'S    HAWK.     Accipiter  cooperii. 

Cooper's  hawk  is  not  nearly  so  common  in  this  region  as  its  congener, 
the  sharp-shinned  hawk.  I  see  it  only  several  times  a  year,  and  have 
not  found  it  nesting,  though  this  is  probably  due  to  lack  of  more  extended 
observation. 

Distinguishing  features:  Like  the  sharp-shinned  hawk,  but  larger, 
length  14-17  inches;  sides  of  head  and  breast  tinged  with  bluish  gray.  Gen- 
erally the  female  hawk  is  noticeably  larger  than  the  male. 

334.     AMERICAN   GOSHAWK.     Accipiter  atricapillus. 

Though  the  identification  may  not  be  satisfactory,  I  am,  strongly  in- 
clined to  believe  that  the  following  records  apply  to  the  American  goshawk, 
and  I  give  them  for  what  they  are  worth.  On  September  28,  1898,  while 
attending  the  Fergus  County  fair  at  Lewistown,  I  noted  a  hawk  fly  over  the 
fair  grounds.  It  was  a  raw,  chill  afternoon,  and  the  bird  in  question  was 
flying  low,  so  that  it  passed  not  many  feet  above  my  head.  It  appeared 
somewhat  larger  than  a  Cooper's  hawk,  was  trimly-built  and  rather  stocky, 
showing  much  white  underneath,  and  in  flight  showed  heavy  black  lines 
from  the  bill  along  the  side  of  the  head.  The  upper  parts  were  the  usual 
dark  slaty  blue.  March  1,  1900,  a  hawk  a  little  larger  than  Cooper's  was 
noted  sitting  on  the  gable  of  a  carpenter's  shop  in  Lewistown.  It  was 
in  plain  view  to  me  as  I  passed  along  the  street  a  little  more  than  half  a 
block  away.  My  idea  at  the  time  was  that  the  hawk  had  been  attracted  by 
the  pigeons  belonging  to  a  loft  nearby.  After  sitting  quietly  for  a  few  min- 
utes, the  hawk  arose  in  flight  and  flapped  away  over  town.  It  is  question- 
able whether  a  Cooper's  hawk  would  be  abroad  on  the  first  day  of  March 
fn  this  locality.  Again,  early  in  February,  1901,  I  noted  a  hawk  flying  over 
Lewistown  in  the  early  afternoon.  I  was  in  the  school-room,  and  could 
give  the  bird  but  slight  attention  at  the  time,  but  I  managed  to  move  «o 
as  to  follow  the  remainder  of  its  course  until  it  disappeared  from  my  view. 
It  then  occurred  to  me  that  it  would  be  unusual  for  a  Cooper's  hawk  to  be 
noted  at  such  a  time,  and  that  as  the  bird  under  observation  appeared  to 
be  rather  larger  than  the  Cooper's  it  was  not  improbable  that  the  species 
in  question  might  prove  to  be  Accipiter  atricapillus,  which  undoubtedly  oc- 
curs in  this  region. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  clear  slate  blue;  tail  crossed 
by  four  darker  bands;  lower  parts  white,  barred  with  bluish  gray;  length 
20-24  inches. 


EGGS  OF  SWAINSON'S  HAWK. 
Photo  by  M.  J.  Elrod. 


BIRDS  OF  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA  29 

337b.     WESTERN    RED-TAIL.     Buteo   borealis  calurus. 

This  fine  hawk  occurs  regularly  throughout  the  county  in  suitable 
places,  the  heavily  timbered  bottomlands  being  its  favorite  haunts.  It  is 
doubtless  resident,  though  not  seen  often  in  winter  in  this  neighborhood. 
Dr.  C.  E.  McChesney  reports  this  hawk  as  quite  common  in  the  Big  Horn 
region.  Messrs.  Richmond  and  Knowlton  also  report  it  as  quite  common 
in  south-central  Montana. 

Dfstinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  chiefly  dark  grayish-brown; 
lower  parts  dull  yellowish  brown;  tail  bright  rusty  red  or  brown;  tail  with 
a  band  of  black  near  end;  length  20-25  inches. 

342.     SWAINSON'S  HAWK.     Buteo  swainsoni. 

A  very  common  summer  resident,  occuring  in  greater  numbers  than 
any  other  of  the  Raptores  except  the  sparrow  hawk.  In  this  locality,  where 
the  trees  are  confined  chiefly  to  the  water-courses,  Swainson's  hawk  is  no- 
ted mostly  in  the  vicinity  of  the  streams  and  coulees.  However,  it  is  a  fre- 
quenter of  the  edges  of  irrigating  ditches,  whose  banks  in  this  region  are 
frequently  high  and  steep  on  one  side  at  least,  and  along  these  banks  the 
hawks  can  be  seen  sitting  watching  for  incautious  gophers,  grasshoppers, 
small  snakes,  and  other  quarry.  This  hawk  begins  to  be  noticeable  early 
in  May,  though  stragglers  are  seen  earlier  in  advanced  seasons.  On  May 
17,  1900,  I  watched  a  pair  of  Swainson's  hawks,  and  it  was  evident  that 
they  were  already  mated.  The  female  was  sitting  on  a  post  along  an  irri- 
gating ditch,  where  she  remained  for  nearly  an  hour,  paying  no  attention 
to  the  fact  that  I  was  stationed  within  fifty  feet  of  her  and  observing  her 
with  interest.  Once  the  male  came  flapping  along  with  a  small  snake  dan- 
gling from  his  feet,  and  sailed  low  over  her  and  back.  Seeing  me,  he  mani- 
fested more  caution,  and  disappeared  over  the  edge  of  the  bank.  Presently 
he  came  back  without  his  prey,  and  trampled  roughly  upon  the  female,  ut- 
tering harsh  cries;  then  apparently  remembering  my  presence,  he  sailed 
over  my  head,  scolding  me  with  sharp  cries.  As  this  performance  occurred 
within  sight  of  a  nest  in  an  old  willow  nearby,  I  concluded  that  the  pair 
had  decided  to  take  possession  of  the  nest  at  the  suitable  time.  I  was 
not  mistaken,  for  upon  visiting  the  nest  on  June  6,  I  found  two  eggs  ad- 
vanced in  incubation.  The  nest  was  an  old  structure  which  had  been  some- 
what repaired  by  adding  a  few  fresh  sticks,  in  the  top  of  an  old  willow 
twenty  feet  from  the  ground.  The  eggs  are  dingy  white  in  color,  marked 
irregularly  with  blotches  and  splashes  of  pale  brown  in  varying  hues,  the 
markings  predominating  at  the  larger  end. 

By  the  beginning  of  June  Swainson's  hawk  is  generally  nesting,  anfl 
many  of  the  nests  are  furnished  with  full  sets  of  eggs.  On  June  1,  1901, 
1  found  a  nest  of  this  hawk,  which  contained  three  eggs  in  which  incubation 
had  advanced  to  blood.  It  was  twenty  feet  from  the  ground  in  a  triple 
crotch  of  an  old  willow  in  a  coulee  through  which  ran  a  small  stream  of 
water,  and  the  branch  containing  the  nest  overhung  the  water.  It  was  an 
old  nest  repaired  with  fresh  sticks  to  which  a  few  leaves  were  clinging, 
the  interior  cavity  being  eight  inches  in  diameter,  and  two  and  one-half 


CO  BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

inches  deep.  On  the  same  day  I  found  another  nest  of  Swainson's  hawk, 
in  a  cottonwood  along  Big  Spring  Creek.  This  nest  was  thirty  feet  from 
the  ground,  near  the  top  of  the  tree,  being  an  old  crow's  nest  repaired  with 
fresh  sticks.  The  cavity  was  eight  inches  across  and  one  and  one-half 
inches  deep.  A  partially  eaten  gopher  was  lying  on  the  edge  of  the  nest. 
There  were  two  fresh  eggs,  which  were  left  until  June  5,  when  no  additions 
had  been  made  to  the  complement  and  the  nest  appeared  to  be  deserted. 

A  pair  of  these  hawks  sometimes  manifests  unusual  zeal  in  establish- 
ing their  nest  for  the  season.  On  May  2,  1903,  I  found  a  pair  in  possession 
of  a  nest  in  a  coulee  opening  into  Big  Casino  Creek,  near  Lewistown. 
Thinking  that  they  were  only  looking  forward  to  occupying  the  nest  later, 
I  did  not  disturb  them;  but  on  May  9  I  climbed  to  the  nest,  which  was  in 
the  top  of  a  pine  fifty-five  feet  from  the  ground.  It  was  an  old  nest,  re- 
furnished with  small  pieces  of  fir  branches.  The  structure  was  about  three 
feet  across,  the  cavity  being  ten  inches  in  diameter  and  two  and  one-half 
inches  deep.  There  were  three  eggs,  far  advanced  in  incubation.  The 
female  always  left  the  nest  when  I  entered  the  coulee,  and  soared  about 
over  the  neighborhood,  screaming  angrily,  in  which  she  was  generally 
joined  by  her  mate. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  grayish  brown;  chin  and  throat 
white;  upper  part  of  breast  dark  reddish-brown;  lower  parts  dull  yellowish 
white,  often  barred  or  spotted  with  darker;  length  19-22  inches.  This  is  the" 
common  so-called  "henhawk"  or  "cliicken  hawk"  of  this  region. 

348.     FERRUGINOUS    ROUGH-LEG.      Archibuteo    ferrugineus. 

A  very  common  resident  of  this  region.  Like  most  of  the  other  large 
hawks,  its  activity  is  more  noticeable  after  the  gophers  make  their  appear- 
ance, which  follows  the  middle  of  March  in  ordinary  seasons.  This  hawk 
begins  to  nest  about  the  latter  third  of  April,  generally  selecting  an  old  nest 
made  by  a  crow  or  a  more  industrious  hawk  in  a  preceding  year.  On  April 
21,  1900,  I  disturbed  a  ferruginous  rough-leg  from  a  nest  in  a  large  pine 
tree,  in  a  rugged  coulee  along  Big  Casino  Creek.  The  male  was  hovering 
low  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  coulee.  Both  birds  balanced  in  air  while 
I  remained  near  the  nest.  The  female  uttered  several  cries  like  the  sylla- 
bles "cay  eye"  as  she  hovered  overhead.  I  did  not  disturb  the  nest,  fear- 
ing that  the  full  complement  of  eggs  had  not  been  deposited.  On  April  23 
I  again  visited  the  nest,  and  as  before  found  the  female  upon  the  nest. 
There  was  a  drizzling  rain,  and  she  remained  on  the  nest  in  spite  of  my 
pounding  on  the  trunk  of  the  tree,  not  leaving  until  I  startled  her  by 
throwing  a  rock  among  the  adjacent  branches.  I  did  not  visit  the  nest 
again  until  April  25,  when  the  nest  was  examined  and  found  to  contain 
two  fresh  eggs,  evidently  an  incomplete  set,  though  the  female  had  occupied 
the  nest  steadily  since  April  21.  The  two  eggs  measured  about  2.38 
by  1.80  inches,  and  2.42  by  1.78  inches.  One  of  the  eggs  was  somewhat 
rain-washed.  The  other  egg  was  grayish  or  dingy  white  in  color,  marked 
with  reddish  brown  in  blotches,  and  small  irregular  spots  of  similar  vary- 
ing colors.  The  nest  was  fifty-two  and  one-half  feet  from  the  ground,  and 


BIRDS  OF  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA  31 

was  a  platform  of  sticks  set  against  the  trunk  of  the  tree,  at  the  base  of  a 
large  branch.  The  only  lining  was  horse  "chips."  During  the  last  visit  both 
birds  soared  high  in  the  air,  the  female  having  uttered  one  or  two  harsh 
cries  when  she  had  first  left  the  nest. 

After  being  disturbed  in  their  nidification  as  described  in  the  pre- 
ceding paragraph,  this  pair  of  rough-legs  moved  into  another  adjacent 
coulee,  and  took  possession  of  a  nest  in  the  top  of  a  pine  tree  fifty-five 
feet  from  the  ground.  It  was  repaired  by  lining  with  horse  "chips"  as  be- 
fore. The  cavity  was  13  inches  across,  and  two  and  one-half  inches  deep. 
On  May  15,  just  twenty  days  after  the  first  two  eggs  were  taken,  the  nest 
contained  two  fresh  eggs.  These  two  were  a  trifle  smaller  than  the  first 
two,  measuring  about  2.36  by  1.76  inches,  and  2.34  by  1.70  inches.  When 
startled  from  her  nest,  the  female  frequently  flew  overhead  uttering  a 
shrill  cry,  and  finally  alighted  upon  an  adjacent  bluff,  occasionally  calling 
harshly.  She  could  be  easily  known  by  her  ragged  wing  quills. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  reddish  brown,  streaked  with 
darker;  lower  parts  white,  the  thighs  reddish  brown;  long  feathers  of  wing 
leaden;  length  22-24  inches. 

349.     GOLDEN    EAGLE.     Aquila  chrysaetos. 

The  golden  eagle  is  of  very  common  occurrence  throughout  the 
county,  though  nesting  only  locally.  Numbers  are  taken  every  winter  in 
traps  set  near  carcasses  of  animals  left  as  bait  for  wolves  and  coyotes. 
One  was  brought  to  me  on  Jan.  2,  1902,  which  had  been  caught  in  a  wolf 
trap  on  Mr.  Fred  Warren's  ranch  near  Utica.  It  was  said  that  the  snow 
around  the  bird  had  been  tramped  almost  to  the  bare  ground  by  coyotes 
which  had  surrounded  the  bird  in  the  night  and  which  had  been  kept 
away  by  the  courageous  captive.  The  bird  became  quite  tame  and  allowed 
me  to  caress  and  handle  it  through  the  bars  of  its  box.  It  ate  about  half  a 
pound  of  raw  beef  per  day.  On  Jan.  27,  about  an  hour  after  I  had  fed  it  at 
noon,  it  was  found  lying  dead  on  the  floor  of  its  box.  Though  I  had  fre- 
quently put  a  basin  of  water  in  its  box,  I  never  saw  the  bird  drink  nor 
noticed  any  evidence  of  its  having  touched  the  water.  One  day,  however, 
it  stood  with  one  foot  in  the  edge  of  the  partially  over-turned  basin,  and 
was  either  washing  its  plumage  or  striking  its  wings  in  efforts  to  escape. 
About  two  weeks  later  it  was  reported  that  another  golden  eagle,  supposed- 
ly the  female  mate  of  the  male  I  have  mentioned,  was  taken  at  the  same 
place. 

Distinguishing  features:  Plumage  generally  dark  brown;  hind  part 
of  head  and  neck  with  a  tinge  of  dull  yellow;  can  be  identified  in  any 
plumage  by  the  leg  feathered  all  around  down  to  the  toes;  length  30-40 
inches. 

352.     BALD    EAGLE.      HaHaeetus    leucocephalus. 

The  bald  eagle  has  not  chanced  under  my  observation  in  this  re- 
gion. Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  notes  that  it  was  seen  only  at  rare  intervals  along 
the  Yellowstone  and  Musselshell  Rivers.  A  pair  of  these  birds,  the  male  in 
splendid  plumage,  were  seen  daily  by  me  at  the  head  of  Swan  Lake,  in  the 
Flathead  Lake  region,  in  the  spring  of  1902. 


BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

Distinguishing  features:  Head,  neck,  and  tail  white;  other  parts  dark 
grayish  brown;  length  30-45  inches.  The  bald  eagle  can  be  distinguished 
from  the  golden  eagle  in  any  plumage  by  the  tarsus  lacking  feathers  all 
around  its  lower  third,  just  above  the  bases  of  the  toes. 

356.     DUCK   HAWK.     Falco    peregrinus    anatum. 

The  duck  hawk  occurs  in  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen's  list,  being  "seen  but  once 
or  twice,  near  the  Great  Bend  of  the  Musselshell."  I  have  seen  it  but  once 
in  this  locality  to  identify  it,  on  May  7,  1900,  when  I  observed  it  flying  over 
Big  Spring  Creek.  Having  no  gun,  I  followed  it  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile, 
hoping  to  get  a  closer  view,  and  found  it  a-perch  of  a  rocky  ledge  near  a 
road,  high  upon  the  bluff.  Seeing  me,  it  arose  with  a  shrill  cry  and  came 
toward  me  as  if  to  attack  me,  but  turned  when  part  way  and  flapped  away 
up  an  adjacent  coulee. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  blackish  brown,  top  of  head 
darker;  upper  part  of  breast  dull  yellowish  white;  lower  parts  white; 
length  16-20  inches. 

357.     PIGEON    HAWK.     Falco  columbarius. 

My  records  contain  but  one  note  regarding  the  occurrence  of  the 
pigeon  hawk  in  this  locality,  though  the  lack  is  largely  due  to  the  fact  that 
I  have  little  opportunity  of  collecting  at  the  time  when  this  hawk  might 
be  expected  to  be  most  noticeable.  One  day  in  October,  1902,  a  fine  speci- 
men was  brought  to  me,  which  had  been  wounded  and  was  captured  on 
Big  Spring  Creek.  The  skin  is  now  in  the  collection  of  the  Fergus  County 
high  school. 

Dr.  McChesney  reports  that  F.  columbarius  was  seen  several  times 
along  the  Yellowstone,  above  Ft.  Keogh,  and  was  again  met  with  August 
27  in  a  spur  of  the  Big  Horn  Mountains  in  considerable  numbers.  Dr.  J. 
A.  Allen  states  that  this  species  was  seen  at  distant  intervals  on  the  Yel- 
lowstone and  Heart  Rivers,  in  September. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  bluish  gray;  lower  parts  dull 
yellowish-white,  striped  with  brown;  tail  crossed  by  four  black  bands; 
length  10-13  inches. 

358.     RICHARDSON'S    MERLIN.      Falco    richardsonii. 

This  merlin  occurs  sparingly  throughout  this  region.  Capt.  Thome 
found  it  rare  at  Ft.  Keogh,  noting  two  individuals  in  the  fall  of  18S9. 
Messrs.  Richmond  and  Knowlton  report  one  specimen  taken  September 
23,  on  the  Madison  River.  On  July  26,  1902,  I  took  a  specimen  of  Richard- 
son's merlin,  evidently  a  young  of  the  year,  at  the  head  of  Swan  Lake,  in 
the  Flathead  Lake  region. 

Distinguishing  features:  Much  like  the  pigeon  hawk,  but  tail  is 
crossed  by  five  (more  than  four)  dark  bands;  outer  webs  of  long  wing- 
feathers,  as  well  as  inner  webs,  spotted  with  gray  or  yellowish;  length 
12-14  inches. 

360.     AMERICAN  SPARROW  HAWK.     Falco  sparverius. 

The  most  abundant  of  the  Raptores  in  summer.  In  the  spring  the 
aparrow  hawk  frequents  the  wooded  margins  of  the  streams  and  the  cou- 


YOUNG  AMERICAN  OSPREY. 
Photo  by  M.  J.  Elrod. 


BIRDS  OF  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA  33 

Ires,  preparatory  to  rearing  its  brood  in  some  cavity  of  the  dead  timber. 
The  prairies  afford  it  fine  foraging  ground,  as  it  is  fond  of  the  grasshop- 
pers. In  the  fall,  it  can  be  seen  perched  on  the  fences,  generally  with 
several  of  its  fellows,  for  the  family  does  not  break  up  immediately  after 
leaving  the  nest,  but  forage  in  company,  though  scattering  somewhat  to 
hunt  to  better  advantage.  One  day  in  fall  my  attention  was  attracted 
by  a  sparrow  hawk  that  was  hunting  near  a  small  pond  near  my  home, 
lor  in  one  instance  he  pursued  a  least  sandpiper  in  air,  following  it  persist- 
ently through  several  attempts  to  escape  the'  swift  dashes  of  the  hawk, 
though  the  chase  was  unsuccessful.  The  same  hawk  soon  after  attempted 
to  capture  a  yellow-legs,  starting  toward  it  when  the  yellow-legs  uttered 
its  whistle  as  it  arose  in  flight,  and  making  several  unsuccessful  swoops 
upon  it. 

Distinguishing  features:  Sides  of  the  head  marked  with  one  or  two 
black  stripes;  top  of  head  bluish  gray;  tail  reddish-brown,  with  broad  band 
cf  black  near  end;  lower  parts  dull  yellowish  white  of  varying  hue;  length 
£-12  inches. 

364.     AMERICAN   OSPREY.     Pandion   haliaetus  carolinensis. 

The  American  osprey  occurs  regularly  along  the  larger  water-courses 
of  this  region.  I  have  noted  it  frequently  near  Lewistown,  and  know  that 
it  has  been  taken  within  a  few  miles  of  town. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  grayish  brown;  tail  crossed  by 
six  or  seven  dark  bands;  head,  neck,  and  lower  parts  white,  the  upper 
part  of  the  breast  often  spotted  or  tinged  with  brown;  length  20-25  inches. 

366.     AMERICAN    LONG-EARED    OWL.      Asio    wilsonianus. 

Rather  common.  On  June  2,  1900,  I  found  a  nest  of  the  long-eared 
owl  within  a  mile  of  Lewistown.  It  was  sixteen  feet  from  the  ground, 
in  an  old  nest  of  the  American  crow,  in  a  willow  thicket  along  Big  Spring 
Creek.  The  old  nest  was  nearly  flat,  and  had  been  lined  with  a  few  downy 
feathers.  There  were  in  it  four  eggs  in  which  incubation  had  begun. 

May  11,  1901,  I  found  an  incomplete  set  of  three  eggs  of  the  long- 
eared  owl,  in  an  old  nest  made  by  the  American  crow,  fourteen  feet  from 
the  ground  in  a  willow  thicket  inhabited  by  a  colony  of  crows.  No  effort 
had  been  made  to  re-line  or  build  up  the  nest,,  but  a  few  downy  feathers 
were  clinging  to  the  twigs  in  the  edges  of  the  structure,  and  to  adjacent 
branches  of  the  tree.  One  of  the  owners  was  sitting  on  the  edge  of  the 
nest  glaring  at  me  as  I  ascended  to  a  crow's  nest  in  an  adjoining  tree. 

On  May  10,  1902,  a  nest  of  the  long-eared  owl  came  under  my  ob- 
servation. It  was  in  the  grove  on  John  Clancy's  ranch,  an  old  nest  of  the 
American  crow  having  been  taken  possession  of  by  the  owls.  Only  a 
few  downy  feathers  had  been  used  in  refitting  the  nest.  The  site  was  in 
a  willow,  fifteen  feet  from  the  ground,  not  far  from  a  path  leading  through 
the  grove.  The  nest  contained  four  eggs,  snowy-white,  partially  incubated. 
Both  parent  birds  were  near  this  nest,  the  female  being  found  on  the 
eggs.  As  I  examined  the  nest,  she  sat  nearby,  or  flew  about  excitedly, 
snapping  her  bill,  or  uttering  a  prolonged  cat-like  cry,  or  scolding  in  syl- 


34  BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

lables  like  "hwah."     The  other  owl  only  uttered  a  low  hooting  noise,  and 
did   not   manifest   so   much   anger   as  did  the  female. 

This  owl  sometimes  uses  an  old  nest  of  the  magpie.  On  May  13, 
1903,  I  found  a  magpie's  nest  thus  occupied.  The  lower  part  of  the  nest 
was  almost  flat,  and  was  very  scantily  lined  with  about  a  half  dozen  soft 
dark  feathers.  This  set  contained  six  eggs,  which  were  partially  incubated. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  marked  with  blending  dull 
yellowish,  grayish  white,  and  dark  brown;  lower  parts  dull  yellowish  tinged 
with  white  and  barred  with  darker  colors;  ear-tufts  prominent;  length 
13-16  inches. 

367.     SHORT-EARED    OWL.      Asio    accipitrinus. 

Occurs  regularly  throughout  the  county,  though  rather  locally  dis- 
tributed. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  dull  yellowish,  striped  with 
dark  brown;  tail  crossed  by  four  or  five  dark  bands;  spaces  around  eyes, 
black;  length  14-17  inches.  Ear-tufts  not  prominent. 

368.     BARRED  OWL.     Syrnium  varium. 

Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  notes  that  the  barred  owl  was  met  with  on  the  Yel- 
lowstone and  Musselshell. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  very  dark  brown,  with  bars 
cf  dull  yellowish;  lower  parts  dull  white,  with  bars  or  spots  of  brown; 
length  20-24  inches.  No  ear-tufts. 

373e.     ROCKY    MOUNTAIN    SCREECH    OWL.      Megascops    asio    maxwell- 

iae. 

Not  generally  common,  owing  to  the  lack  of  suitable  wooded  areas. 
The  only  specimen  seen  near  Lewistown  by  me  was  lurking  in  a  willow 
thicket  near  Big  Spring  Creek,  where  it  was  surprised  as  I  was  taking  an 
after-school  ramble.  It  is  not  mentioned  in  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen's  Musselshell 
list 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  light  yellowish  gray  varying 
to  more  reddish  brown,  lower  parts  frequently  pure  white;  ear-tufts  promi- 
nent; length  8-10  inches. 

375a.     WESTERN    HORNED  OWL.     Bubo  virginianus  pallescens. 

A  common  resident.  The  western  horned  owl  begins  to  nest  early 
in  March  in  this  region.  On  March  16,  1900,  I  found  two  ne^ts  of  this  owl. 
Both  were  old  hawk's  nests,  one  abo.ut  thirty-three  feet  from  the  ground 
in  a  crotch  of  a  cottonwood  in  a  grove  along  Big  Spring  Creek.  This  nest 
had  been  slightly  furnished  by  adding  a  scanty  lining  of  downy  feathers, 
presumably  from  the  body  of  the  sitting  bird,  and  its  complement  was 
four  eggs  partially  incubated.  The  second  nest  was  thirty-eight  feet  from 
the  ground,  in  a  lone  cottonwood  along  a  small  branch  of  Big  Spring 
Creek.  As  in  the  preceding  instance,  a  few  downy  feathers  were  used  to 
make  the  old  nest  comfortable,  and  to  receive  the  three  fresh  eggs  forming 
the  complement. 

A  second  set  of  eggs  of  one  of  the  foregoing  pair  of  birds  was  taken 
on  April  13,  from  a  nest  in  a  grove  along  Big  Spring  Creek.  It  was  a 


BIRDS  OF  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA  35 

nest  of  a  former  season,  only  ten  feet  from  the  ground,  and  had  no  lining 
whatever.     In  this  instance  *here  were  two  eggs  partially  incubated. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  grayish  brown,  varied  with 
fine  lines  of  blackish;  upper  part  of  breast  white;  lower  parts  pale  yel- 
lowish, barred  with  darker  colors;  tail  crossed  by  six  or  seven  dark  bands; 
length  18-25  inches.  Ear-tufts  very  prominent.  Commonly  known  as 
"hoot  owl." 

376.     SNOWY  OWL.     Nyctea   nyctea. 

A  very  common  winter  visitant.  This  handsome  owl  can  be  seen 
stationed  on  the  ground  on  some  small  knoll  out  in  the  meadow  or  prairie, 
often  in  the  coldest  weather,  and  if  undisturbed,  will  frequent  the  same 
locality  day  after  day  throughout  the  winter.  It  generally  appears  about 
the  first  of  November,  and  disappears  early  in  March. 

Distinguishing  features:  Color  generally  pure  white,  often  with 
spots  and  bars  of  bluish  brown;  length  20-23  inches.  Ear-tufts  scarcely  no- 
ticeable. 

378.     BURROWING   OWL.     Speotyto  cunicularia   hypogaea. 

Very  common  on  the  prairies,  and  of  general  distribution  in  the 
county.  In  this  locality  the  burrowing  owl  is  not  confined  to  the  prairie 
dog  towns  and  burrows,  but  makes  itself  at  home  in  old  tunnels  of  gophers 
and  badger  holes. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  brownish,  spotted  and  barred 
with  dull  yellowish;  lower  parts  tinged  with  pale  yellowish;  length  9-11 
inches. 

390.     BELTED   KINGFISHER.     Ceryle  alcyon. 

A  regular  summer  resident  along  the  streams,  appearing  a;s  early 
as  the  first  of  March,  and  remaining  as  late  as  the  end  of  October.  It  is 
not  unlikely  an  occasional  winter  resident  along  Big  Spring  Creek,  as  it 
has  been  reported  nearly  every  month  of  the  year.  The  fact  that  this 
stream  is  open  continuously  during  the  winter  adds  to  the  evidence  favor- 
ing the  occasional  winter  residence  of  the  kingfisher.  In  1902,  I  noted  the 
kingfisher  along  the  creek  in  the  limits  of  Lewistown  on  Nov.  18. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  bluish  leaden;  lower  parts 
white,  with  a  band  of  bluish  across  the  breast;  the  female  has  band  of 
reddish  brown  across  the  breast;  head  with  a  conspicuous  crest;  length 
11-15  inches. 

393e.     ROCKY    MOUNTAIN    HAIRY    WOODPECKER.      Dryobates    villosus 

monticola. 

A  common  resident  of  the  timbered  regions,  manifesting  in  all 
respects  the  habits  of  the  hairy  woodpecker,  of  which  it  is  a  sub-species. 

Distinguishing   features:      Upper    parts    black,    with    stripe    running 
lengthwise  on  back;    lower  parts  white;    male  with  red  spot  on  back  of 
head;  length  9-10  inches. 
394b.     BATCHELDER'S    WOODPECKER.      Dryobates    pubescens    homorus. 

The  mountain  form  of  the  downy  woodpecker  is  of  common  occur- 
rence in  timbered  regions,  being  generally  noted  along  the  wooded  bottoms 
of  the  water-courses  and  coulees. 


3ti  BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

X 

Distinguishing  features:  Like  the  hairy  woodpecker,  but  smaller, 
length  6-7  inches. 

402a.     RED-NAPED   SAPSUCKER.      Sphyrapicus   varius    nuchalis. 

This  woodpecker  is  not  common  near  Lewistown,  but  doubtless  oc- 
curs generally  in  the  wooded  mountainous  districts.  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  notes 
that  it  was  seen  only  on  tne  Musselshell,  where  several  specimens  were 
taken.  Messrs.  Richmond  and  Knowlton  report  its  breeding  in  south- 
central  Montana.  I  found  this  woodpecker  breeding  commonly  in  the 
Flathead  Lake  region.  f 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  black  varied  with  white;  red 
patch  on  throat;  patch  of  red  on  back  of  head;  under  parts  smoky  yel- 
lowish; length  8-9  inches. 

406.     RED-HEADED    WOODPECKER.       Melanerpes    erythrophthalmus. 

This  handsome  woodpecker  occurs  sparingly  in  the  wooded  coulees 
near  Lewistown,  which  is  certainly  near  the  western  limit  of  its  distri- 
bution. On  several  occasions  I  have  seen  it  along  Big  Casino,  where  it 
breeds.  On  June  9,  1903,  I  noted  the  presence  of  the  red-headed  wood- 
pecker at  Cottonwood.  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  states  that  the  red-headed  wood- 
pecker was  abundant  everywhere  from  the  Missouri  to  the  Yellowstone, 
far  outnumbering  all  the  other  Picidae  together.  It  is  migratory  in  this 
portion  of  its  range,  making  its  appearance  about  the  mddle  of  May,  and 
beginning  to  nest  early  in  June. 

Distinguishing  features:  Head,  neck,  and  upper  part  of  body  crim- 
son; middle  of  back  across,  bluish-black;  other  parts  white;  length  9-10 
inches. 

408.     LEWIS'S   WOODPECKER.     Asyndesmus   torquatus. 

Not  very  common.  I  have  observed  it  but  once  near  Lewistown, 
or.  May  18,  1899,  when  a  specimen  was  seen  clinging  to  a  fence  post  along 
Big  Spring  Creek.  Presently  it  stood  upon  the  post,  from  which  position  it 
flew  away  when  startled,  and  disappeared  in  a  neighboring  coulee. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  greenish  black;  forehead  and 
cheeks  crimson;  collar  and  upper  part  of  breast  gray;  lower  parts  chiefly 
pinkish  red;  length  10-12  inches. 

412a.     NORTHERN  FLICKER.     Colaptes  auratus  luteus. 

Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  reports  that  this  species,  the  "yellow-shafted  flicker,'' 
was  seen  occasionally  westward  to  the  Musselshell. 

Distinguishing  features:      Shafts  of  wing-feathers  yellow;    otherwise 
much  like  the  red-shafted  flicker,  but  "mustache"  of  male  black. 
413.     RED-SHAFTED    FLICKER.      Colaptes    cafer    collaris. 

A  common  resident  of  the  woodlands  along  the  streams,  though  my 
observations  do  not  warrant  my  including  it  as  a  winter  resident.  If  a 
migrant,  it  is  uncommonly  early  in  making  its  appearance,  for  on  March 
30,  1901,  the  calls  of  this  woodpecker  were  heard  along  Cottonwood  Creek, 
and  several  specimens  were  seen. 

Distinguishing  features:  Shafts  of  long  wing-feathers  red;  upper 
parts  brownish,  with  black  bars;  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  white;  male 


NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  CATBIRD. 
Photo  by  M.  J.  Elrod. 


BIRDS  OP  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA  37 

with  a  mustache  of  bright  scarlet;   lower  parts  pale  reddish-brown;  length 
13-14  inches. 

418.     POOR-WILL.     Phalaenoptilus   nuttallii. 

A  common  summer  resident  of  the  mountain  regions.  I  have  ob- 
served it  in  the  Big  Snowy  Mountains  at  7,000  and  more  elevation.  It  is 
generally  flushed  from  the  ground,  among  the  trees  or  bushes,  and  on 
such  occasions  will  fly  but  a  short  distance,  always  with  noiseless  wir.g 
and  in  uncertain  course,  alighting  on  the  ground.  Sometimes  when  flushed 
it  will  utter  a  low,  whimpering  cry.  Its  eggs  are  deposited  on  the  ground, 
usually  among  the  leaves  or  pine  needles,  early  in  June.  Two  eggs  form 
the  complement.  They  are  white,  unspotted.  It  nests  regularly  in  the 
Moccasin  Mountains,  and  probably  in  the  Judith  Mountains.  It  is  likely 
ot  general  distribution  in  the  county,  as  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  reports  that  a  few 
individuals  were  seen  by  him  in  the  pine  ridges  and  ravines  along  the 
It'usselshell.  Dr.  C.  A.  McChesney  also  gives  it  in  his  list  of  birds  of  tho 
Lig  Horn  region. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  brownish  gray,  varied  by  spots 
and  waves  of  black;  throat  with  a  large  spot  of  white;  tail  tipped  with 
yrhite;  length  7-9  inches. 

420a.     WESTERN    NIGHTHAWK.      Chordeiles   virginianus    henryi. 

A  common  summer  resident.  Late  in  the  summer  the  nighthawks 
can  be  seen  quartering  over  the  meadows,  beginning  their  flight  soon  after 
the  middle  of  the  afternoons.  On  August  1,  1902,  I  noted  a  flock  of  twenty- 
five  or  thirty  nighthawks  wheeling  over  a  hay  meadow  near  Deerfield, 
about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  a  clear  day. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  mottled  with  gray  and  black; 
tail  with  several  dusky  bands;  lower  parts  white,  barred  with  blackish 
brown;  throat  with  a  white  spot;  length  9-10  inches. 

444.     KINGBIRD.     Tyrannus  tyrannus. 

A  common  summer  resident,  inhabiting  the  thickets  and  groves  of 
dwarf  trees  along  the  streams.  The  kingbird  appears  in  the  second  week 
of  May,  and  begins  to  nest  early  in  June.  It  leaves  this  locality  for  the 
south  about  the  end  of  August,  but  frequently  it  is  seen  early  in  Septem- 
ber. The  pugnacious  disposition  of  the  kingbird,  its  loud  twittering  as  it 
takes  an  active  part  In  the  affairs  of  its  little  neighborhood,  its  peculiar 
swimming-like  manner  of  flight,  and  its  expert  aerial  movements  in  pur- 
suit of  flying  insects,  all  combine  to  give  the  kingbird  a  wide  reputation. 
It  is  reputed  to  live  chiefly  on  insects,  but  in  two  instances  I  have  seen 
the  kingbird  try  to  vary  its  diet.  Once  I  saw  a  kingbird  fly  into  a  haw 
tree,  pick  a  berry,  and  fly  out  of  the  tree  with  the  berry  in  its  mouth; 
however,  it  seemed  awkward  in  handling  the  fruit,  and  let  it  drop  before 
the  bird  flew  to  a  perch  nearby.  On  another  occasion  I  noted  the  king- 
bird feeding  on  service-berries. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  grayish  black;  crown  with  a 
concealed  spot  of  yellowish-red;  lower  parts  white;  length  8-9  inches. 


88  BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

447.     ARKANSAS    KINGBIRD.      Tyrannus    verticalis. 

Quite  common  at  various  places  along  the  Judith  River,  and  doubt- 
less occurring  throughout  the  county  in  suitable  localities,  though  it  has 
not  been  observed  by  the  writer  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Lewistown. 
Dr.  J.  A.  Allen,  whose  itinerary  included  the  Musselshell  River  on  the 
south-eastern  boundary  of  Fergus  county,  says  of  its  occurrence:  "Ex- 
ceedingly abundant  wherever  there  is  timber,  far  outnumbering  even  so 
common  a  bird  as  T.  Carol inensis  (kingbird),  and  more  numerous  than  any 
other  tree-nesting  species.  After  the  breeding  season  seen  far  away  from 
the  timber  among  the  sage  brush."  Dr.  Hayden  first  observed  the  Arkan- 
sas kingbird  in  Montana  at  <:a  point  about  one  hundred  miles  below  Fort 
Pierre,  and  thence  to  the  mountains."  Capt.  Thome  reports  that  the  Ar- 
kansas kingbird  is  numerous  at  Ft.  Keogh,  the  kingbird  being  not  as  num- 
erous there  as  T.  verticalis. 

Distinguishing  features:  Head,  neck,  and  breast  bluish  gray;  wings 
dark;  tail  black;  lower  parts  pale  yellow;  crown  with  concealed  spot  of 
crange-red;  length  8-10  inches. 

457.     SAY'S   PHOEBE.     Sayornis  saya. 

Early  in  September,  1900,  my  attention  was  called  to  a  "flycatch- 
er," which  had  entered,  a  store  in  town  and  contentedly  taken  up  tempo- 
rary quarters,  proving  itself  a  valuable  addition  to  the  establishment  by 
feeding  greedily  on  the  flies  infesting  the  windows.  The  bird  would  sit 
upon  the  articles  piled  on  the  upper  shelves,  from  which  position  it  would 
sally  out  regularly  to  capture  a  fly  that  attracted  it.  This  flycatcher  in 
reality  proved  to  be  a  Say's  phoebe.  After  about  a  week's  residence  in 
the  store,  the  phoebe  disappeared  one  day,  doubtless  winging  its  way  to  a 
more  congenial  winter  home.  This  phoebe  is  a  common  summer  resident 
of  this  region,  its  habits  being  very  similar  to  those  of  the  phoebe  of  more 
eastern  localities.  In  1901,  the  first  Say's  phoebe  was  seen  in  Lewistown 
en  April  12,  when  it  was  observed  sitting  on  a  fence-post,  flitting  its  tail 
nervously.  It  soon  flew  across  a  vacant  lot,  and  alighted  on  another  post; 
at  no  part  of  its  flight  did  it  rise  above  the  level  of  the  top  of  vhe  fence. 
The  loud,  querulous  call  of  this  phoebe  becomes  quite  noticeable  early  in 
May,  when  the  bulk  of  the  individuals  are  arriving. 

This  phoebe  is  especially  interesting  because  of  its  social  disposition 
and  its  habit  of  making  its  nest  about  our  dwellings,  even  in  town.  It  is, 
likely  to  select  any  convenient  nook  about  the  porch  or  cornices  as  a  site 
for  its  home.  During  the  nuptial  and  nest-building  time,  the  male  frequent- 
ly utters  a  loud  cooing  whistle,  somewhat  similar  to  the  prolonged  call 
of  the  flicker  or  "yellow-hammer,"  but  more  mellow  and  musical.  The  or- 
dinary call  of  this  phoebe  is  a  loud  note  resembling  the  syllable  "fear"  or 
sometimes  like  "fear  it,"  and  occasionally  "de  fear"  and  "de  fear  it."  The 
nest  is  a  mass  of  soft  materials  like  rags,  string,  moss,  lichens,  hair  and 
stems.  The  eggs  are  white,  occasionally  marked  with  specks  of  blackish 
brown. 

Distinguishing  features :     Upper  parts  brownish  gray,  with  tail  dark- 


BIRDS  OP  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA  39 

er;   breast  light  gray,  other  lower  parts  light  yellowish-brown;   length  7-8 
inches. 

462.     WESTERN    WOOD    PEWEE.      Contopus    richardsonii. 

A  common  summer  resident  in  the  wooded  regions.  Dr.  J.  A.  AlJon 
observed  this  species  at  various  points  along  the  Musselshell,  and  Dr. 
McChesney  reports  it  as  quite  common  along  the  Yellowstone  and  Big 
and  Little  Horn  Rivers.  Capt.  P.  M.  Thorne  reports  the  western  wood 
pewee  as  common  at  Ft.  Keogh,  and  Richmond  and  Knowlton  mention  it  in 
their  list  of  birds  of  south-central  .Montana. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  grayish  brown,  wings  and  tail 
darker;  lower  parts  lighter,  generally  tinged  with  yellowish;  length  6-7 
inches. 

466.     TRAILL'S   FLYCATCHER.     Empidonax  traillii. 

A  specimen  was  taken  near  Lewistown,  August  30,  1898. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  olive,  grayer  on  head;  lower 
parts  white,  breast  tinged  with  gray  and  other  parts  tinged  with  dull  yel- 
low; length  5-6  inches. 

.   474c.     DESERT   HORNED   LARK.     Otocoris  alpestris   leucolaema. 

This  horned  lark  is  the  regular  summer  resident  of  this  region. 
Though  found  generally  over  the  prairies,  it  prefers  the  benches  in  the 
\icinity  of  settlements  and  ranches,  in  which  situations  it  is  noted  in 
abundance.  Before  the  end  of  February,  frequently  as  early  as  the  middle 
of  the  month,  the  nuptial  songs  of  the  males  can  be  heard,  continuing  in- 
creasingly through  March  and  April  and  until  the  later  broods  appear. 
Nesting  begins  about  the  middle  of  April,  and  the  eggs  are  deposited  by  the 
end  of  the  month.  On  May  4,  1900,  I  found  a  nest  of  the  desert  horned 
lark,  containing  three  eggs  far  advanced  in  incubation,  while  on  the  same 
day  I  found  another  nest  near  the  first  containing  three  eggs  of  a  comple- 
ment of  four  which  was  completed  the  following  day.  Four  days  later, 
May  9,  I  observed  a  young  desert  horned  lark  on  the  same  bench,  evi- 
dently taking  ifcs  first  lessons  in  self-support,  under  the  care  of  the  male 
parent.  It  was  well  fledged,  seeming  at  least  two  weeks  old,  though  it  did 
not  try  to  fly,  but  crouched  low  on  the  ground  while  its  parent  walked 
rapidly  away  to  call  me  from  the  youngling. 

The  nest  of  the  horned  lark  can  usually  be  found  by  watching  ahead 
for  the  sitting  bird  to  step  from  the  nest.  The  male,  who  takes  his  turn 
in  incubation  when  the  duties  become  too  confining  for  his  mate,  sits  very 
closely,  and  seldom  leaves  the  nest  until  the  intruder  is  almost  upon 
him;  hence  when  he  is  taking  care  of  the  home,  it  is  more  difficult  to  find 
the  nest,  unless  one  chances  upon  it  in  walking.  The  female,  however, 
is  more  watchful,  and  in  most  instances  leaves  the  nest  by  stepping  from 
it  when  the  disturber  is  about  thirty  feet  away,  in  which  case  she  begins 
to  glean  quietly  from  the  neighboring  vegetation,  but  gradually  leaves  the 
vicinity  of  the  nest. 

Nest  No.  1,  May  4,  1900,  was  unmarked  in  any  way,  being  flush 
with  the  surrounding  surface,  except  where  the  northern  side  of  the  brim 
was  a  trifle  elevated.  On  the  higher  side  were  a  few  blades  of  green 


40  BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

grass.  The  nest  was  two  and  three-eighths  inches  average  diameter,  and 
cne  and  five-eighths  inches  deep,  made  of  dried  grass,  with  several  pieces 
of  soft  napkin  paper  in  bottom  for  bedding.  Nest  No.  2,  May  4,  1900,  was 
at  the  head  of  a  small  run  leading  to  the  foot  of  the  bench.  The  brim  of 
this  nest  was  built  above  the  surrounding  level,  and  the  elevated  walls 
vrere  banked  up  with  coarse  pieces  of  cow  chips.  On  the  north  side  were 
seme  grass  and  tanzy  several  inches  high.  This  nest  was  of  size  similar 
to  No.  1,  and  was  made  of  dried  grass  with  cottony  fibers  in  the  bottom 
for  bedding.  Nest  No.  3,  May  5,  1900,  w.as  on  the  same  bare  bench,  where 
a  lot  of  refuse  consisting  of  old  tin  cans,  rags,  bones,  and  other  rubbish 
had  been  strewn.  This  nest  was  snugly  made  against  the  base  of  a  sin- 
gle weed-stem,  which  bent  over  somewhat  to  resemble  a  tuft.  As  in  the 
preceding  instance,  the  brim  was  slightly  elevated,  and  banked  around 
with  dirt  and  fragments  of  cow  chips.  The  nest  was  made  of  dried  grass, 
with  a  bedding  of  cottony  fibers.  In  size  it  was  two  inches  and  two  and 
one-half  inches  minor  and  major  axes,  and  one  and  three-fourths  inches 
deep.  Behind  this  nest,  lying  beside  the  weed-stem,  was  a  piece  of  old 
white  cloth,  which  served  to  mark  the  site.  The  complement  was  three 
eggs  in  which  incubation  had  begun.  Nest  No.  4,  May  8,  1900,  was  about 
ten  feet  from  an  old  road,  made  in  a  hoof-track  beside  a  tuft  of  moss 
which  was  level  with  the  brim  of  the  nest,  though  between  the  brim  and 
the  moss  was  the  usual  bank  of  cow  chips.  This  nest  was  made  entirely 
of  dried  grass,  and  contained  four  eggs  advanced  in  incubation. 

On  May  20,  1900,  I  found  a  nest  of  the  desert  horned  lark  contain- 
ing four  eggs  advanced  in  incubation.  Upon  visiting  the  nest  the  next 
day,  I  found  that  two  of  the  eggs  had  hatched,  and  later  a  third  young- 
ster was  found,  the  fourth  egg  being  infertile.  I  inspected  the  house- 
hold regularly  in  the  following  days,  and  on  May  27  I  noted  that  the 
three  nestlings  about  filled  the  nest,  and  were  feathering  out  nicely. 
Both  parents  attended  them  assiduously,  but  the  elders  made  no  demon- 
strations whatever  when  the  nest  was  visited.  The  well-fledged  young- 
lings left  the  nest  about  noon  on  May  30,  exactly  nine  days  after  they 
emerged  from  the  shell.  It  is  noticeable  that  the  male  seems  to  assume 
entire  charge  of  the  young  birds  for  the  first  few  days  after  they  leave 
the  nest,  while  they  are  learning  to  care  for  themselves. 

Data  of  nests  found  the  following  season  are  quite  similar  to  those 
already  given.  One  found  May  6,  1901,  was  in  a  round  hole  sunken  beside 
an  insignificant  tuft  of  moss,  in  dried  cow  chips,  on  the  sunny  side  of  the 
ECOSS  tuft.  It  contained  four  fresh  eggs.  Another  on  May  8,  1901,  con- 
taining three  half-incubated  eggs,  was  in  a  cavity  sunken  beside  a  stone. 
This  nest  was  made  of  dried  grass  and  lined  with  downy  pistils,  and 
retained  its  shape  when  removed  from  the  depression.  A  third  nest,  found 
May  12,  1901,  was  in  a  cavity  sunken  on  the  sunny  side  of  a  moss  tuft, 
and  was  banked  around  with  cow  chips.  It  was  made  as  usual  of  dried 
grass,  and  was  lined  with  downy  pistils.  It  contained  three  eggs  far 
advanced  in  incubation.  A  fourth  nest  May  14,  1901,  held  four  fresh  eggs. 
It  was  in  a  depression  on  the  sunny  side  of  a  tuft  of  moss  in  an  old  road, 


DESERT  HORNED  LARK. 
Photo  by  E.  R.  Warren. 


BIRDS  OF  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA  41 

and  about  ten  feet  from  a  traveled  road.  It  was  made  of  dried  grass,  with 
a  few  downy  pistils  in  the  bottom,  and  was  banked  around  with  small 
clods  and  fragments  of  cow  chips.  A  fifth,  May  14,  1901,  was  about 
twenty-five  feet  from  a  road,  in  a  depression  beside  moss  among  cow 
chips.  This  nest  contained  four  eggs  far  advanced  in  incubation.  Two 
males  were  singing  their  nuptial  songs  within  a  hundred  yards  of  this 
nest. 

On  April  20,  1902,  I  found  a  nest  of  the  desert  horned  lark  containing 
four  eggs,  the  fourth  egg  having  been  deposited  that  morning,  for  on  the 
preceding  afternoon  the  nest  contained  only  three  eggs.  This  nest  was 
made  in  a  depression  in  a  wagon  track  of  an  old  road.  The  eggs  were 
tiiken,  but  as  the  nest  was  wet  from  a  rain  and  snow  that  had  fallen  dur- 
ing the  preceding  night,  it  was  left  in  situ.  Happening  to  stroll  past  the 
place  on  April  25,  I  found  that  a  fresh  track  had  been  made  by  a  wagon 
that  morning,  and  both  wheels  of  one  side  of  the  wagon  had  passed 
squarely  over  the  nest,  crushing  it  into  its  depression.  Thus  it  appears 
that  nests  of  this  species  are  liable  to  accident  besides  the  danger  of 
eager  collectors.  The  eggs  are  dull  grayish  olive,  thickly  speckled  with 
dark  brown. 

The  pallid  horned  lark,  Ctocoris  alpestris  articola,  is  said  to  be  a 
winter  visitor  or  resident  in  this  region.  Not  having  given  sufficient  at- 
tention to  the  variations  of  the  horned  larks  hereabout,  I  am  not  able  to  list 
this  species  from  personal  observation,  as  I  do  not  recall  having  seen 
any  horned  larks  in  this  locality  in  December  and  January.  To  the  gen- 
eral observer  it  is  in  all  respects  similar  to  the  desert  horned  lark. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  sandy  gray,  back  streaked 
with  darker  colors;  a  horn-like  tuft  extending  backward  from  side  of  head, 
black;  head  marked  with  black  and  yellowish  white;  sides  sandy  gray,  other 
lower  parts  white  or  pale  yellow;  length  7-8  inches. 

475.     AMERICAN    MAGPIE.      Pica    pica    hudsonia. 

Abundant,  inhabiting  the  thickets  along  the  water-courses,  and  be- 
ing of  general  distribution  throughout  the  county. 

The  favorite  nesting  sites  are  haw  and  willow  trees  of  the  thickets. 
Pine  trees  are  often  used,  in  which  the  nest  is  constructed  at  the  outer 
ends  of  strong  branches,  upon  a  strong  foundation  of  coarse  sticks.  In  the 
haws  and  willows  the  nest  is  made  in  a  stout  crotch  formed  by  several 
upright  branches,  though  frequently  the  size  of  the  structure  causes  the 
affair  to  extend  much  beyond  the  main  supporting  branches.  Quite  often 
the  nest  is  based  upon  a  drooping  branch,  and  built  into  other  convenient 
supports.  Within  the  foundation  of  sticks  is  a  bowl  of  clay  or  earthy  ma- 
terial, from  six  to  ten  inches  in  its  varying  axes  across  the  top,  and  from 
six  to  eight  inches  in  depth.  Within  this  bowl  is  the  inner  nest,  generally 
made  of  coarse  dried  root  fibers,  and  sometimes  lined  with  a  scant  amount 
of  horsehair.  Above  the  body  of  the  nest  is  a  canopy  or  roof  of  sticks 
similar  to  those  in  the  base,  and  around  the  sides  there  is  a  lattice-like 
shelter  of  more  or  less  thickness,  often  so  closely  woven  that  the  col- 
lector's arm  can  be  inserted  only  with  difficulty. 


42  BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

Frequently  a  nest  of  enormous  size  is  found.  On  April  23,  1901, 
I  found  a  nest  of  the  American  magpie  in  a  haw  tree  in  a  small  coulee. 
This  nest  was  made  on  nearly  horizontal  branches,  though  they  might 
have  bent  later  beneath  the  weight  of  material  piled  upon  them.  This 
nest  was  four  feet  high,  four  feet  long,  and  forty  inches  wide,  a  great 
mass  of  tangled  sticks  forming  the  canopy,  while  the  base  contained 
enough  material  to  fill  a  large  clothes  basket.  It  is  fair  to  say  that  one- 
fourth  of  the  material  in  this  nest  would  have  made 'the  average  nest. 

In  a  record  of  fifteen  nests  examined  in  1900-01,  two  were  sixteen 
feet  from  the  ground  to  base  of  nest,  one  was  twelve  feet,  three  were  ten 
feet,  one  was  nine  feet,  and  the  remainder  were  seven  feet  from  the 
ground,  the  average  being  between  nine  and  ten  feet. 

The  number  of  eggs  in  the  complement  varies  from  six  to  nine.  I 
found  six  eggs  in  only  two  full  set;  seven,  eight,  and  nine  are  found 
generally,  the  larger  numbers  being  the  commonest  in  first  sets  when  the 
birds  are  disturbed  in  their  nidification.  "The  eggs  are  grayish-white, 
with  a  yellowish,  occasionally  with  a  greenish  tinge,  spotted,  dashed  and 
dotted  with  markings  of  purplish  or  violet-brown;  most  thickly  around  the 
larger  end.  Average  size,  1.34  x  .89  inches." 

Distinguishing  features:  Head,  neck,  back,  breast  and  upper  part 
of  legs,  velvet  black;  other  upper  parts  rich  metallic  greenish  blue  and 
other  hues;  shoulders,  sides  and  other  under  parts  pure  white;  length  17- 
22  inches. 

478c.     BLACK-HEADED  JAY.     Cyanocitta  stelleri   annectens. 

This  handsome  jay  has  never  chanced  under  my  observation  in  this 
region,  but  several  good  observers  have  reported  its  occurrence  in  the 
Big  Snowy  Mountains,  where  wooded  ravines  and  coulees  containing 
streams  form  its  favored  haunts.  In  the  Flathead  Lake  region,  I  found  this 
jay  frequenting  the  dwarf  pines  near  the  rocky  summits  of  Hall's  Peak, 
at  7,500  feet  elevation,  as  well  as  near  the  lake  shore. 

Distinguishing  features:     Upper  parts  dark  blue,  head  chiefly  black; 
lower  parts  blue;   head  with  a  prominent  crest;   length  12-14  inches. 
484a.     ROCKY    MOUNTAIN    JAY.      Perisoreus    canadensis    capitalis. 

A  common  resident  of  the  higher  mountainous  districts,  and  known 
among  the  prospectors  and  ranchers  as  the  "tallowhead."  In  their  list  of 
birds  of  south-central  Montana,  Messrs.  Richmond  and  Knowlton  state 
that  this  jay  is  very  common  in  the  mountains  from  the  lowest  limit  of  the 
coniferous  forests  up  to  at  least  9,000  feet,  above  which  altitude  the  observ- 
ers did  not  have  occasion  to  go. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  pale  bluish  gray,  the  head 
and  neck  lighter;  lower  parts  light  gray,  with  a  brownish  tinge;  length 
11-13  inches. 

486.     AMERICAN    RAVEN.      Corvus    corax    sinuatus. 

The  raven  occurs  regularly  along  the  Missouri  border,  and  also  near 
the  other  larger  water-courses  of  the  county,  but  its  general  distribution  seems 
to  be  quite  local  or  variable.  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  reports  that  the  raven  was 


BIRDS  OF  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA  43 

more  or  less  common  from  the  Missouri  to  the  Musselshell,  being  seen 
almost  daily,  but  nowhere  very  numerous.  At  Ft.  Keogh,  Capt.  Thorne 
found  it  not  common. 

Distinguishing  features:     Plumage  glossy  black;  length  21-26  inches. 

488.     AMERICAN      CROW.      Corvus    americanus. 

In  this  immediate  region,  the  crow  is  migratory.  Where  the  crows 
reared  in  this  neighborhood  spend  the  winter,  I  have  no  idea  worth  re- 
cording. The  first  crows  of  the  season  appear  early  in  April,  the  earliest 
for  1900  being  seen  on  April  7,  though  in  1901  the  first  crow  was  noted  on 
March  30.  For  the  four  years  that  include  my  observation  in  Montana, 
a  single  pair  of  crows  have  had  quarters  along  Little  Casino  Creek,  where 
they  have  generally  succeeded  in  rearing  a  brood.  The  largest  colony  that 
I  know  in  this  locality  is  on  John  Glancy's  ranch  along  Big  Spring  Creek, 
where  perhaps  two  dozen  families  of  crows  are  reared  each  season  in  the 
willow  groves. 

Though  the  crows  appear  to  arrive  in  the  spring  in  pairs  or  small 
groups,  it  is  likely  that  they  depart  in  the  fall  in  a  body  including  most 
of  the  colony  in  any  neighborhood.  For  several  weeks  preceding  their 
departure,  they  go  nightly  to  some  favored  roosting-place,  returning  to 
pass  the  day  in  their  summer  feeding-grounds.  On  August  28,  1899,  I 
noted  that  a  large  body  of  crows,  consisting  of  forty  to  fifty  individuals, 
was  flying  northward  about  the  middle  ofternoon.  On  September  11,  a  large 
flock  of  crows  was  seen  about  3:30  p.  m.,  flying  in  compact  body  toward 
the  north.  No  stragglers  were  seen.  There  were  between  fifty  and  sev- 
enty-five individuals  in  this  flock.  On  October  2,  I  noted  that  a  large  flock 
of  crows  was  flying  southward  about  four  in  the  afternoon.  October  12th 
brought  evidences  of  changing  weather,  with  fine  snow  in  the  air,  and  the 
wind  raw  and  chilling.  A  flock  of  about  fifty  crows  was  seen  flying  in 
compact  formation  toward  the  south  about  three  in  the  afternoon,  and 
this  movement  was  apparently  the  final  migration,  for  no  crews  were 
seen  thereafter,  until  the  opening  of  the  next  season. 

Distinguishing  features:     Plumage  glossy  black,  length  18-20  inches. 

491.     CLARKE'S    NUTCRACKER.      Nucifraga   columbiana. 

This  species  is  a  common  resident  of  the  mountainous  districts. 
It  is  popularly  known  as  "camp  robber,"  because  of  its  notorious  disposi- 
tion to  visit  the  camp  of  the  prospector,  hunter,  or  tourist,  to  pick  up 
tid-bits  of  food  lying  about  the  premises.  It  sometimes  carries  its  depreda- 
tions so  far  as  to  sample  the  contents  of  the  open  mess-chest.  It  is  a 
noisy  bird,  having  a  harsh,  crow-like  call  consisting  of  several  scolding 
syllables.  During  most  of  the  year  the  nutcracker  ranges  over  the  moun- 
tainous localities  in  troops  of  small  numbers,  usually  frequenting  the  tops 
of  tall  pines  and  other  conifers.  In  the  Big  Snowy  Mountains  the  nutcracker 
is  common  at  altitudes  of  seven  and  eight  thousand  feet.  On  May  9,  1903, 
a  young  Clarke's  nutcracker,  taken  from  a  brood  of  three  about  to  leave 
1he  nest,  was  brought  to  me  from  Whisky  Gulch,  Judith  Mountains.  The 


44          BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

nest  was  about  sixteen  feet  from  the  ground,  made  beside  the  main  stem  of 
a  small  evergreen  on  the  mountain-side. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  ashy  gray,  lighter  on  the 
head;  wings  and  two  middle  tail  feathers,  black;  other  parts  of  wings  and 
tail,  white;  length  12-13  inches. 

494.     BOBOLINK.      Dolichonyx   oryzivorus. 

A  very  common  migrant,  appearing  about  May  20,  and  lingering 
two  or  three  weeks  in  song.  In  the  fall  it  is  abundant  in  the  weedy 
borders  of  the  stubble  along  the  streams,  where  its  metaillic  "chink"  can  be 
heard  for  several  weeks  in  late  August  and  early  September.  It  is  likely 
that  the  bobolink  breeds  in  suitable  localities  in  the  county.  Messrs. 
Richmond  and  Knowlton  found  the  bobolink  very  common  at  one  place 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  Gallatin  valley  about  the  middle  of  August, 
where  a  large  number  was  observed  in  a  rank  growth  of  wild  sunflowers 
(Helianthus).  In  a  considerable  tract  of  nearly  ripe  oats  nearby,  they 
found  only  a  few  stray  birds. 

Distinguishing  features:  Back  of  head  and  neck,  shoulders,  rump, 
and  upper  tail  coverts,  pale  yellowish  white;  other  parts  black;  length 
about  seven  inches.  The  female  lacks  the  whitish  markings,  and  has  up- 
per parts  streaked  with  brown  and  pale  tawny. 

495.     COWBIRD.     Molothrus  ater. 

The  cowbird  is  not  noticeably  common  in  this  region.  It  is  not 
often  seen  before  the  first  week  of  May,  but  its  shrill  whistling  call  soon 
announces  its  presence,  and  by  the  second  week  of  May  the  cowbird  is 
well  established  in  its  haunts.  As  is  generally  well-known,  this  bird  is 
parasitic  to  the  extent  that  its  eggs  are  deposited  in  the  nests  of  certain 
other  species,  for  the  cowbird  never  makes  a  home  of  its  own  to  rear  its 
young.  Upon  others,  in  whose  nests  its  eggs  are  laid,  is  imposed  the 
burden  of  hatching  its  eggs  and  rearing  its  young,  frequently  to  the  utter 
ruin  of  the  family  of  the  selected  foster-parents. 

Brewer's  blackbird  is  the  chief  victim  of  the  cowbird  in  this  locality. 
I  have  found  as  many  as  five  eggs  of  the  parasite  in  a  nest  containing  only 
two  eggs  of  the  blackbird.  Frequently  the  cowbird  manages  to  deposit 
the  first  egg  in  the  finished  nest.  The  yellow  warbler  also  suffers  very 
generally  from  the  impositions  of  the  cowbird.  Sometimes  the  little  song- 
ster prefers  to  cover  over  the  cowbird's  egg  with  its  own,  and  thus  avoid 
the  burden  of  caring  for  the  alien.  In  the  fall  of  1900,  I  found  two  nests 
of  the  yellow  warbler  in  the  rose  bushes  along  Little  Casino,  which  had 
evidently  served  their  purpose  as  homes  of  young  warblers.  Under  the 
soft  bedding  in  each  nest,  however,  two  eggs  of  the  cowbird  were  found 
thus  snugly  covered.  When  the  nests  were  finished,  the  cowbird  had 
found  the  snug  cots  before  the  owners  had  taken  permanent  occupancy, 
and  had  deposited  its  eggs  for  the  care  of  the  warbler.  The  warbler,  man- 
ifestly unwilling  to  take  upon  themselves  the  care  of  the  cowbird  eggs 
and  younglings,  had  placed  additional  material  over  the  eggs  of  the  para- 
site, thus  defeating  the  purpose  of  the  cowbird,  while  relieving  themselves 
of  unwelcome  aliens  in  their  homes. 


NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  WARBLING  VIEW. 
Photo  by  M.  J.  Elrod, 


BIRDS  OF  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA  -15 

Distinguishing  features:  Head  and  neck  dark  brown;  other  parts 
black,  generally  with  metallic  hues;  length  8-9  inches. 

497.     YELLOW-HEADED     BLACKBIRD.      Xanthocephalus    xanthocephalus. 

This  fine  blackbird  is  not  uncommon  at  Lewistown  during  the 
spring  and  fall  migrations,  though  only  a  few  are  seen  at  a  time.  As  it 
is  a  bird  of  the  swamps,  it  does  not  find  many  localities  in  this'  region  suit- 
able to  its  habits,  and  hence  probably  does  not  breed  to  any  extent  in  this 
county.  Records  of  other  observers  show  that  the  yellow-headed  blackbird 
is  not  seen  in  numbers  in  this  portion  of  its  habitat.  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  re- 
ports that  this  species  was  seen  but  three  or  four  times  on  the  whole 
journey.  "A  small  colony  found  breeding  near  the  point  where  we  crossed 
the  Big  Muddy,  and  a  single  small  flock  seen  near  the  head  of  the  Great 
Porcupine  Creek.  A  small  flock  seen  once  also  on  Heart  River."  Dr.  Mc- 
Chesney  does  not  mention  it  in  his  list  of  birds  of  the  Big  Horn  region, 
and  Dr.  Elliott  Coues  did  not  notice  it  on  this  portion  of  the  Missouri 
River.  In  the  spring  of  1902,  the  writer  noted  the  yellow-headed  black- 
bird sparingly  in  the  swamp  at  the  head  of  Swan  Lake,  in  the  Flathead 
region,  with  good  evidence  of  its  breeding  there,  though  no  nests  were 
found.  Not  more  than  half  a  dozen  individuals  were  seen  in  an  area  of  a 
square  mile. 

Capt.  Platte  M.  Thome  found  this  blackbird  abundant  in  suitable 
localities  at  Ft.  Keogh,  where  it  breeds. 

Distinguishing  features:  Head,  neck,  and  upper  part  of  breast 
yellow;  wing-coverts  chiefly  white;  other  parts  black;  length  10-11  inches. 

498.     RED-WINGED    BLACKBIRD.      Agelaius    phoeniceus. 

This  handsome  blackbird  is  seen  regularly  in  this  region,  inhabiting 
reedy  swamps  throughout  the  prairie  districts  of  the  county.  In  the  sea- 
son of  1900,  the  first  red-winged  blackbird  appeared  on  the  morning  of 
April  9  at  Lewistown,  calling  cheerfully  in  spite  of  a  light  fall  of  snow. 
In  1902,  the  first  red-wing  of  the  season  was  observed  on  March  22,  sing- 
ing in  rusty  tone  in  a  thicket  in  a  marshy  place  on  Big  Spring  Creek. 

Owing  to  its  local  distribution,  this  blackbird  is  not  noted  in  num- 
bers except  when  it  congregates  in  the  restricted  marshy  areas.  Dr.  J.  A. 
Allen  says  that  it  was  met  with  only  at  distant  intervals,  and  nowhere 
in  considerable  numbers.  He  did  not  observe  it  either  on  the  Mussel- 
shell  or  the  Yellowstone.  Dr.  McChesney  reports  that  he  did  not  believe 
this  blackbird  entered  the  Big  Horn  region.  At  Ft.  Keogh,  however,  Capt. 
Thome  found  it  common  and  breeding. 

In  the  late  fall,  the  red-winged  blackbird  forms  large  flocks  with 
Brewer's  blackbird,  the  former  fully  equaling  the  latter  in  its  proportions 
in  the  flocks.  It  no  longer  confines  its  movements  to  the  swamps,  but 
enters  the  towns  with  its  associate,  and  gleans  from  the  feed-lots.  None 
are  seen  generally  after  the  end  of  October. 

Distinguishing  features:  Black,  with  wing-coverts  bright  red;  fe- 
male lacks  the  red  marking,  and  is  streaked;  length  9-10  inches. 


46          BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

501b.     WESTERN     MEADOWLARK.      Sturnella    magna    neglecta. 

A  very  common  resident  in  summer,  preferring  the  cultivated  dis- 
tricts, and  the  vicinity  of  ranches.  The  meadowlark  appears  irregularly 
from  the  first  to  the  middle  of  April,  taking  possession  ot  meadows  and 
grainfields,  and  scattering  its  ringing  melody  everywhere  during  the  latter 
half  of  April.  It  lingers  late  in  the  fall,  being  active  and  musical  from 
the  middle  of  September  till  the  middle  of  October,  after  which  only  strag- 
glers are  seen  and  heard. 

The  meadowlark  begins  to  nest  about  the  second  week  of  May, 
and  the  nest  generally  has  its  full  complement  of  eggs  by  the  20th  of  May. 
On  May  24th,  1900,  I  found  a  nest  of  the  western  meadowlark,  containing 
six  eggs  advanced  in  incubation.  The  nest  was  among  short  sprouts  in 
the  margin  of  Big  Casino  Creek.  It  was  made  of  coarse  dried  grass,  and 
protected  by  a  strong  dome  formed  of  over-arching  dried  grass,  with  a  cir- 
cular entrance,  three  inches  in  diameter,  in  one  side.  The  nest  was  five 
inches  in  diameter,  one  and  one-half  inches  deep  in  the  depression,  and 
was  lined  with  finer  dried  grass.  As  usual,  the  eggs  were  white,  with  spots 
and  blotches  of  reddish  brown. 

On  May  25,  1901,  I  found  a  nest  of  the  western  meadowlark  in  the 
same  neighborhood  as  that  mentioned  in  the  preceding  paragraph.  It  was 
made  under  drooping  bush  stems  in  a  weedy  patch.  The  walls  of  the 
nest  were  formed  of  fine  dried  grass,  curved  upward  and  over  to  make  a 
firm  arched  covering.  The  cavity  measured  five  inches  from  front  to 
back,  and  four  inches  in  height.  Like  the  one  found  in  1900,  its  entrance 
faced  the  rising  sun.  This  nest  contained  six  eggs  in  which  incubation  had 
begun. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  mottled  with  brown,  gray, 
and  black;  throat  and  breast  yellow,  with  a  black  crescent  on  upper  part 
of  breast;  lower  parts  whitish,  frequently  with  a  yellowish  tinge;  outer 
tail  feathers  marked  with  white;  length  8-11  inches. 

508.     BULLOCK'S  ORIOLE.     Icterus  bullocki. 

This  oriole  is  a  common  summer  resident  in  this  region,  inhabiting 
the  wooded  bottom  lands,  and  associating  itself  almost  exclusively  with  the 
deciduous  growth  that  fringes  the  streamsides.  It  generally  appears  in 
this  locality  in  the  second  week  of  May,  and  soon  begins  to  construct  its 
pensile  nest  in  the  aspens,  cottonwoods  and  low  haw  trees,  the  site  being 
usually  between  ten  and  twenty  feet  from  the  ground.  None  of  the  nests 
which  I  have  examined  was  so  pendulous  as  those  of  the  Baltimore  oriole, 
the  syle  of  support  being  more  like  that  used  by  the  orchard  oriole,  as 
the  nest  is  generally  suspended  from  several  upright  twigs  in  a  way  that 
gives  the  structure  only  such  movement  as  is  common  to  the  swaying  sup- 
porting branches.  The  usual  material  of  the  nest  is  coarse  weed  fibers, 
and  the  same  material  constitutes  most  of  the  structure.  A  soft  bed  of  wool 
or  other  downy  material  completes  the  nest  of  the  oriole.  The  eggs,  like 
those  of  the  other  orioles,  have  a  background  of  grayish  white,  and  are 
very  irregularly  and  curiously  marked  with  spots  and  lines  of  blackish 
brown. 


BIRDS  OF  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA  47 

Distinguishing  features:  The  male  has  forehead,  stripe  over  eye, 
sides  of  body  and  flanks  orange  yellow;  other  parts  similar  but  with  a 
tinge  of  olive;  wing  prominently  marked  with  black  and  white;  female 
lacks  much  of  the  bright  coloring  of  the  male;  length  8-9  inches. 

510.     BREWER'S    BLACKBIRD.      Scolecophagus    cyanocephalus. 

This  is  our  common  blackbird,  abundant  everywhere  in  summer. 
In  1899,  the  first  Brewer's  blackbirds  appeared  in  Lewistown  on  April  29, 
when  a  flock  of  ten  or  twelve  spent  the  day  in  some  aspens  on  Main 
street.  In  1900,  the  first  were  noticed  on  April  23;  in  1901,  the  first  black- 
birds were  seen  on  April  27;  and  in  1902,  a  solitary  specimen  on  April 
28  marked  the  opening  of  the  season  for  Brewer's  blackbird.  Before  the 
regular  nesting  period,  the  blackbirds  resort  to  the  vacant  feed-lots  about 
town  and  about  the  ranches.  By  the  middle  of  May,  however,  they  have 
established  themselves  in  the  bushy  tracts  along  the  streams  and  irri- 
gating ditches,  ready  to  begin  nidification. 

Brewer's  blackbird  nests  in  colonies,  the  size  of  the  colony  depend- 
ing upon  the  extent  of  the  bushy  tract  available.  A  clump  of  bushes  ten 
feet  square  may  accommodate  several  pairs  of  birds.  The  nest  is  placed 
about  two  feet  from  the  ground,  generally  among  upright  stems.  The  first 
nest  of  this  blackbird  which  fell  under  my  observation  was  nineteen 
inches  from  the  ground,  in  a  crotch  of  a  bush.  The  brim  was  twenty-four 
inches  from  the  ground,  the  nest  cavity  being  four  inches  across  and  two 
and  one-half  inches  deep.  There  was  an  outer  layer  of  coarse  twigs,  a  mid- 
dle layer  of  dried  grass-stems  plastered  with  mud,  and  a  lining  of  rootlets 
and  horsehair.  This  nest  contained  five  eggs  of  the  blackbird  and  two 
eggs  of  the  cowbird,  partially  incubated  on  May  29.  The  eggs  vary  con- 
siderably in  color  and  markings,  having  a  background  of  grayish  or 
greenish  white,  splashed  and  blotched  with  varying  shades  of  brown. 

The  site  of  the  nest  varies  with  the  surroundings.  Once  I  found 
a  nest  of  Brewer's  blackbird  in  a  crotch  of  a  haw  tree,  seven  feet  from 
the  ground;  and  frequently  the  structure  is  made  in  the  base  of  a  bush, 
on  or  near  the  ground. 

This  blackbird  is  a  very  common  victim  of  the  cowbird  in  seeking 
suitable  foster-parents  for  its  offspring.  On  June  4,  1901,  I  found  a  nest 
of  Brewer's  blackbird,  containing  five  eggs  of  the  cowbird  and  two  of  the 
owner.  Indeed,  it  is  unusual  with  me  to  find  a  nest  of  this  species  con- 
taining a  full  complement  of  eggs  without  any  of  the  cowbird's.  On  May 
31,  1902,  however,  I  found  a  nest  of  Brewer's  blackbird  in  a  bush  in  a 
clump,  which  contained  six  eggs  of  the  blackbird  without  any  products  of 
the  cowbird. 

By  the  first  of  August  the  blackbirds  are  forming  into  heavy  flocks, 
and  thus  they  congregate  on  the  ranches  and  feed-yards.  Associated  with 
Brewer's  blackbirds  are  red-winged  blackbirds  and  cowbirds.  The  flocks 
are  largest  about  the  end  of  August  to  the  middle  of  September;  there- 
after the  flocks  gradually  decrease  in  numbers  until  about  the  first  of 
November,  after  which  the  blackbirds  are  seldom  seen  except  as  belated 
stragglers. 


48          BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

There  are  many  interesting  traits  in  the  manners  of  Brewer's  black- 
bird. In  the  late  fall,  they  sit  frequently  on  the  roofs  of  barns,  arranging 
themselves  in  regular  order  along  the  ridge  or  on  other  parts  of  the  roof, 
so  that  nearly  the  same  distance  intervenes  between  any  two;  if  others 
join  them,  the  newcomers  do  not  crowd  among  those  already  seated,  but 
dispose  themselves  in  the  same  order.  It  is  customary  for  a  flock  thus 
to  spend  a  short  time  before  retiring  to  their  roosting-place  for  the  night. 

In  our  city  streets  during  the  late  fall  days,  the  blackbirds  are  much 
like  the  English  sparrows  in  more  eastern  localities  in  their  boldness  and 
disregard  of  human  surroundings,  gleaning  in  the  backyards  and  about 
the  kitchen  doors,  moving  out  of  the  way  when  disturbed,  but  acting 
otherwise  as  if  perfectly  at  home. 

Distinguishing  features:     Plumage  glossy  black,  the  head  and  neck 
with  metallic  reflections;  female  slaty  brown;  length  9-10  inches. 
511b.     BRONZED  CRACKLE.     Quiscalus  quiscula  aeneus. 

This  blackbird  occurs  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  county,  along  the 
Musselshell  borders.  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  reports  it  as  abundant  on  the  Mis- 
souri at  Fort  Rice,  common  along  Heart  River,  and  on  the  Yellowstone  a? 
far  up  as  it  was  ascended  (Pompey's  Pillar).  He  states  also  that  along 
the  Yellowstone  and  Musselshell  are  found  nearly  all  the  species  observed 
at  Fort  Rice,  though  more  sparingly  represented.  Dr.  McChesney  reports 
this  blackbird  as  common  in  the  Big  Horn  region,  and  Dr.  Elliott  Coaes  tracec' 
it  westward  along  the  northern  boundary  of  the  state  to  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains. The  writer  has  not  observed  it  in  the  vicinity  of  Lewistown. 

Distinguishing  features:  Plumage  bronze  black  or  brassy  olive,  neck 
with  metallic  hues;  length  12-13  inches. 

515a.     POCKY    MOUNTAIN    PINE    GROSBEAK.      Pinicola    enuncleator 

montana. 

The  pine  grosbeak  is  common  as  a  winter  visitant,  appearing  irreg- 
ularly in  the  foot-hills  and  mountains  in  the  late  fall.  It  is  a  handsome 
bird,  of  striking  appearance,  a  worthy  accompaniment  of  the  evergreen 
hillsides  where  it  comes  and  goes  in  the  winter  season.  On  October  15, 
1901,  a  fine  specimen  was  brought  to  me  from  the  foot-hills  of  the  North 
Moccasin  Mountains,  where  it  is  reported  to  be  common  in  winter.  The 
natives  know  this  grosbeak  as  the  "deer  bird." 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  generally  dark  reddish  pink; 
shoulders,  flanks,  and  under  parts  chiefly  ashy  gray;  wings  and  tail  darker, 
coverts  marked  with  dull  white;  length  8-9  inches. 

521.     AMERICAN   CROSSBILL.     Loxia  curvirostra   minor. 

The  American  crossbill  is  mentioned  in  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen's  list  as  quite 
frequent  in  occurrence  on  the  Musselshell  in  the  vicinity  of  the  pine  cov- 
ered bluffs  and  ravines.  It  doubtless  occurs  more  commonly  in  the  west- 
ern portions  of  the  county,  where  mountainous  conditions  prevail.  I  have 
not  noted  its  occurrence  near  Lewistown.  In  the  late  summer  the  cross- 
bill is  likely  to  appear  after  or  during  stormy  weather,  roaming  the  woods 
in  small  flocks  or  troops  in  quest  of  food.  The  crossbill  is  fond  of  the  seeds 


NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  AMERICAN  REDSTART. 
Photo  by  M.  J.  Elrod. 


BIRDS  OF  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA  49 

of  the  common  fir  or  Douglas  spruce,  and  several  birds  will  feed  together 
in  a  tree-top,  uttering  their  clinking  notes  and  dropping  a  shower  of  loose 
cones  which  they  detach  in  their  energetic  movements.  Occasionally  a 
crossbill  will  utter  a  chattering  song  not  unlike  that  of  the  American  gold- 
finch. The  usual  note  is  a  syllable  like  "preen,"  repeated  three  or  four 
times  after  the  clinking  call.  The  song  of  the  crossbill  can  be  suggested 
by  the  syllables,  "Quit,  quit,  quit,  quit,  preen-preen-preen." 

Distinguishing  features:  Plumage  dull  red,  wings  and  tail  darker; 
female  has  grayish  olive  instead  of  red;  length  about  6  inches. 

522.     WHITE-WINGED   CROSSBILL.      Loxia    leucoptera. 

An  irregular  winter  visitant  in  the  mountainous  regions. 

Distinguishing  features:     Plumage  dull  red,  frequently  with  a  tinge 
of  yellow;    shoulders,   tail,   and   wings   black,   the   latter   varied   with   two 
broad  bands  of  white;  female  has  olive  instead  of  red;  length  6-7  inches. 
524.     GRAY-CROWNED  LEUCOSTICTE.     Leucosticte  tephrocotis. 

A  regular  winter  resident  at  Lewistown,  where  it  is  known  as  "brown 
snowbird."  It  generally  appears  about  the  first  of  November,  though  in 
pleasanter  weather  it  may  not  be  observed  before  the  8th  or  10th.  It  ia 
gregarious,  moving  about  daily  in  flocks  of  varying  size,  usually  scattering 
about  town  in  smaller  troops  until  severe  weather,  when  most  of  the  troops 
unite  into  one  large  flock,  often  containing  as  many  as  two  or  three  hun- 
dred individuals. 

The  leucostictes  are  our  English  sparrows  in  social  manners.  They 
feed  at  the  door-steps,  or  in  the  yards.  On  a  warm  winter  morning  I  have 
seen  from  forty  to  fifty  of  these  birds  sitting  on  a  wood-pile  in  the  door- 
yard,  sunning  themselves  and  gleaning  from  refuse.  In  the  late  afternoons 
the  individuals  of  a  flock  scatter  out  to  accustomed  nooks  for  the  night. 
A  particular  male,  and  sometimes  a  female,  have  regular  sleeping-nooks  in 
the  porch  of  the  writer's  home,  and  long  before  nightfall  the  birds  seek 
their  quarters.  I  have  seen  one  enter  a  tubular  eaves-trough,  there  to  spend 
the  night.  Frequently  they  flutter  under  projecting  eaves,  and  cling  to 
some  projecting  support  for  the  night. 

In  1899,  I  first  noted  the  leucostictes  on  October  30,  when  a  flock 
of  fifteen  was  seen  gleaning  on  a  vacant  lot  on  Main  street.  When  dis- 
turbed, they  arose  with  sharp,  metallic  scolding  notes,  keeping  together 
and  flying  away  in  irregular,  undulating,  capricious  flight.  By  November 
16,  the  number  of  the  flock  had  increased  to  about  sixty.  They  were 
feeding  near  the  school  building,  and  were  quite  fearless  and  friendly,  as 
individuals  frequently  alighted  within  six  feet  of  me.  They  are  extremely 
restless,  flitting  in  irregular,  jerky  movements  on  the  wing.  They  have 
a  trilling  chirp  which  they  utter  a-wing  and  on  the  ground.  They  alight 
about  the  school  building  very  much  like  English  sparrows,  preferring 
projecting  parts,  gutters,  window-sills.  Frequently  one  will  alight  in  the 
window  and  even  though  someone  is  standing  at  the  window  within. 

The  leucostictes  feed  on  the  seeds  of  the  dwarf  sage,  or  glean  from 
the  snow  about  the  bases  of  such  plants.  They  are  fond  of  gleaning  along 


CO  BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

the  hillsides  at  the  margin  of  the  snowy  areas.  In  the  spring,  when  a  thaw 
is  taking  place,  a  flock  will  congregate  on  a  spot  eight  or  ten  feet  across, 
all  pecking  industriously  from  the  bare  ground.  They  also  frequent  the 
margins  of  dry  ditches,  and  a  walk  or  fence  on  sloping  ground,  where  ex- 
posed areas  can  be  found,  are  favored  feeding-places.  Some  of  the  flock 
are  in  motion  at  any  time,  flitting  nervously  to  another  portion  of  the 
feeding-place.  Often  the  whole  flock  will  take  wing  with  a  dull  whirring 
sound  of  wings,  many  of  the  birds  uttering  a  quick  alarm  note  like  the 
syllable  "quir,"  or  "chie,"  or  "quie  quie."  Rising  in  scattering  body,  with 
c-f-.pricious,  undulating  movement,  they  may  circle  down  immediately  to  the 
same  forage  spot. 

The  rapid  flitting  of  the  wings  of  the  leucostictes  in  flight  is  notice- 
able, though  sometimes  one  will  soar  through  the  air  with  outspread 
v/ngs,  fluttering  the  wings  only  enough  to  give  movement.  The  flitting  of 
the  wings  appears  to  be  caused  by  their  tips  being  elevated  above  the  gen- 
eral level  of  the  bird's  back. 

Very  early  the  leucostictes  give  evidence  of  the  approach  of  the 
nuptial  season.  After  the  middle  of  January,  one  male  will  frequently  chase 
another  coquettishly,  like  meadowlarks  in  amorous  sport.  Occasionally  at 
this  season  a  male  will  sit  for  a  few  moments,  uttering  a  pretty  little  trill, 
like  "tree-ree-ree-ree-ree-ree-ree,"  enunciating  the  syllables  with  great  rapid- 
ity. '  As  the  season  approaches,  and  the  warm  sunshine  of  late  February 
announces  the  further  advance  of  the  vernal  period,  the  leucostictes  increase 
in  their  musical  numbers.  Sitting  on  the  ridge  of  house  or  barn,  gener- 
ally at  the  end  of  the  ridge,  alone  or  in  small  troops,  they  utter  thorr 
whe<7y  chants,  sometimes  with  no  more  force  than  that  used  by  the  grass- 
hoppev  sparrow,  sometimes  with  greater  force  and  more  varied  expression. 

The  males  sing  also  while  sitting  on  the  ground,  appearing  to  be 
picking  up  morsels  of  food,  and  singing  as  a  frequent  variation.  In  such 
instances  the  song  has  a  ventriloquial  effect,  appearing  to  issue  from  a 
point  much  farther  away.  A  male  singing  on  the  ground  will  sidle  toward 
a  female,  and  if  she  coyly  takes  wing  a  reckless,  amorous  pursuit  will  fol- 
low. They  care  little  for  surroundings,  if  an  appreciative  female  listener 
is  near.  Late  in  February  I  observed  a  male  sitting  on  a  telegraph  pole 
in  front  of  the  post  office  at  mail  time,  and  disregarding  the  bustle  below, 
tie  uttered  his  low,  hurried  trills. 

In  early  March  the  wing-bars  of  their  plumage  become  more  promi- 
r.ent,  the  purple  of  the  sides  to  show  more  noticeably,  and  the  colors  gen- 
eially  to  assume  their  vernal  or  nuptial  hues.  By  the  middle  of  April  the 
last  of  the  leucostictes  has  disappeared. 

Distinguishing  features:  Plumage  brown  cinnamon;  back  of  head, 
»bove  ears,  hoary  gray;  bill  yellowish  in  winter;  length  6-7  inches. 

524a.     HEPBURN'S  LEUCOSTICTE.     Leucosticte  tephrocotis  littoralis. 

This  associate  of  the  gray-crowned  leucosticte  can  be  easily  distin 
guished  by  the  greater  amount  of  gray  upon  the  head,  the  color  frequently 
marking  the  entire  head  above  the  lower  part  of  the  ears.  Hepburn's  leu 


BIRDS  OF  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA  61 

costicte  mingles  with  the  gray-crowned  in  proportion  of  one  10  six  or  eight 
of  the  latter,  in  this  locality.  In  habits  it  is  a  counterpart  of  the  one  pre- 
viously described  at  length,  hence  further  account  would  be  needless  repe- 
tition. 

528.     REDPOLL.     Acanthis  linaria. 

The  redpoll  is  the  common  "snowbird"  of  this  region.  It  regularly 
•spends  the  greater  part  of  the  winter  with  us,  and  several  hundred  indi- 
viduals make  their  headquarters  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  Lewis- 
town.  They  haunt  the  shrubbery  of  gardens  and  weed-patches,  picking  up 
such  seeds  and  morsels  of  food  as  they  can  find.  Stragglers  frequently  find 
their  way  under  sidewalks  in  feeding,  and  they  often  fly  out  from  under  the 
feet  of  the  passerby.  Their  usual  notes  are  a  call  suggesting  the  syllables 
"chickie,"  or  "chickie-chie."  Another  call  is  an  exact  counterpart  of  the 
goldfinch's  plaintive  "pee  pee."  The  first  call  is  one  of  alarm,  and  is  heard 
most  frequently  in  the  ordinary  movements  of  the  redpoll.  In  the  late 
winter,  after  the  first  bright  days  in  March,  the  singing  of  the  redpoll  can 
be  heard,  a  short  hurried  trill  somewhat  like  that  of  the  chipping  sparrow, 
but  much  shortened  and  uttered  in  a  harsher  tone.  This  song  is  uttered 
by  the  performer  either  sitting  or  flying,  and  is  frequently  given  by  many 
of  the  birds  flying  in  a  flock.  The  redpoll  generally  arrives  early  in  No- 
vember, and  remains  until  about  the  middle  of  April. 

Among  the  numbers  of  redpolls  that  visit  us,  I  am  certain  of  the 
occurrence  of  the  hoary  redpoll,  Acanthis  hornemannii  exilipes,  if  the 
paler  tinge  of  pink  on  the  sides  as  examined  at  close  range  is  a  safe  basis  of 
identification.  In  Auk,  XVIII.,  page  195,  Mr.  Louis  B.  Bishop  calls  attention 
to  specimens  of  this  species  taken  at  Miles  City,  authentically  identified, 
confirming  me.  in  my  opinion  of  the  occurrence  of  ths  form  here  and  else- 
where throughout  this  region  of  Montana  in  winter.  Without  having  taken 
specimens,  but  having  seen  the  birds  only  a  few  feet  away  in  the  clearest 
light,  the  writer  is  tolerably  certain  of  the  occurrence  of  Holboell's  red- 
poll, A.  1.  holboellii,  at  Lewistbwn.  Since  Mr.  Louis  B.  Bishop  has  recorded 
its  presence  at  Miles  City,  there  is  no  occasion  to  doubt  its  occurrence  in 
Fergus  county  at  least  as  a  winter  visitant. 

The  evidence  of  the  occurrence  of  the  greater  redpoll,  A.  1.  rostrata, 
is  equally  strong.  In  several  instances  it  has  been  seen  associating  with 
leucostictes,  in  whose  company  it  was  the  more  readily  noticed  because 
of  its  smaller  size  and  different  markings.  I  have  not  observed  it  with 
other  redpolls,  and  only  on  a  few  occasions  with  the  leucostictes  in  mid- 
winter. 

Distinguishing  features:     Upper  parts  brownish  gray,  streaked  with 
darker;   top  of  head  with  dark  red  or  brownish  red    (in    winter);     sides 
streaked  with  dusky;  breast  and  sides  pink;  length  4.50-5  inches. 
529.     AMERICAN    GOLDFINCH.     Astragalinus  tristis. 

Doubtless  generally  distributed  over  the  county.  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen 
reports  that  it  is  "quite  common  along  the  better  timbered  portions  of  the 
larger  creeks  and  rivers,  particularly  along  the  Musselshell."  It  resorts 
to  the  weedy  patches  along  the  ditches  in  fall,  feeding  among  the  weeds 


52          BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

that  fringe  the  margin  of  the  water.  Throughout  September  its  pleasing 
call-notes  can  be  regularly  heard  as  it  works  industriously  in  gathering 
its  daily  fare  of  seeds,  and  its  sweet  songs  can  be  heard  as  the  songster 
wings  its  way  overhead  in  billowy  flight.  The  winter  habits  of  the  Ameri- 
can goldfinch  in  this  region  are  unknown  to  me.  Toward  the  latter  part  of 
May  its  summer  songs  begin  to  enliven  the  observer's  rambles,  and  then 
it  begins  to  show  its  bright  summer  attire.  Congregating  in  the  clumps  of 
willows  that  crowd  the  little  bends  of  our  Big  Spring  and  other  creeks,  as- 
sociating with  yellow  warblers  recently  arrived  from  their  southern  winter 
homes,  the  goldfinches  form  sweet  choruses  with  their  gentle  calls,  and 
revel  in  the  wealth  of  opening  buds  and  warming  breezes. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  bright  yellow,  the  forehead, 
crown,  sides  of  head,  wings,  and  tail  black;  other  parts  chiefly  yellow; 
female  has  brownish  or  grayish  olive  instead  of  yellow;  length  4.50-5.50 
inches. 

533.     PINE  SISKIN.     Spinus   pinus. 

The  pine  siskin  inhabits  the  coniferous  forests  of  the  county  in  sum- 
mer. In  the  upland  prairie  regions  it  is  seldom  seen,  as  it  is  essentially 
p.  bird  of  the  forest,  where  it  flits  among  the  tops  of  the  tallest  pines  and 
ether  evergreen  trees.  Its  presence  may  be  noticed  by  its  harsh,  sibilant 
call,  as  it  swings  here  and  there  in  active  and  noisy  companionship.  A 
common  note  of  the  pine  siskin  is  exactly  like  the  goldfinch's  usual  plaint, 
.a  single  or  double  call  resembling  the  syllable  "pee"  or  "pee  pee,"  and 
when  the  goldfinch  and  the  redpoll  are  in  the  nighborhood,  it  is  difficult 
to  distinguish  the  difference,  if  there  be  any,  between  their  calls  and  that 
of  the  pine  siskin. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  grayish  brown,  lower  parts 
lighter,  everywhere  streaked  with  darker  colors ;  bases  of  tail  and  long  wing 
feathers  marked  with  yellowish;  length  4.50-5  inches. 

534.     SNOWFLAKE.     Passerina  nivalis. 

A  regular  winter  visitant.  The  snowflake  generally  makes  its  ap- 
pearance with  snow-storms  of  November,  flitting  overhead  in  small,  scat- 
tered troops,  uttering  its  trilling  call.  My  record  contains  no  note  of  more 
than  six  or  eight  together  at  any  time,  and  it  does  not  appear  that  the 
snowflake  forms  here  such  large  flocks  as  may  be  seen  in  more  southern 
localities.  Frequently  a  troop  will  alight  to  feed  on  some  exposed  area, 
taking  flight  easily  at  any  alarm,  and  whirling  away  from  the  neighborhood. 
The  snow-bird  is  seldom  seen  after  early  February,  except  in  cases  of 
storms  of  unusual  severity. 

Distinguishing  features:     Winter  plumage  of  upper  parts  dull  white, 
usually   tinged   with   reddish   brown;    back,    shoulders,    and   part   of   wing, 
black;  chest  tinged  with  brown,  other  under  parts  white;  length  6-7  inches. 
536.     LAPLAND    LONGSPUR.     Calcarius    lapponicus. 

This  boreal  species  is  an  accompaniment  of  the  winter  storm  and 
the  severest  weather.  Generally  it  whirls  southward  on  the  wings  of  the 
snow-laden  blasts,  calling  downward  to  us  in  cheery  note  as  it  passes  over- 
head. Sometimes  a  flock  will  sweep  down  on  an  exposed  area  of  the 


NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  LOUISIANA  TANAGER. 
Photo  by  M.  J.  Elrod. 


BIRDS  OF  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA  53 

bench  to  glean  from  the  weed-tops,  and  if  disturbed  will  sweep  away  on  rest- 
less wings,  moving  in  undulating,  capricious  flight  wherever  impulse  may 
lead  them. 

Distinguishing  features:  (Winter  plumage)  Crown  brownish  gray, 
extending  downward  on  back  of  neck;  wing  coverts  edged  with  brown;  up- 
per parts  streaked  with  brown  and  black;  under  parts  white,  streaky; 
length  6-7  inches. 

538.     CHESTNUT-COLLARED    LONGSPUR.    Calcarius    ornatus. 

The  chestnut-collared  longspur  occurs  on  the  high  prairies  of  the 
county  in  summer,  though  in  small  numbers.  Each  spring  I  observe  several 
chestnut-collared  longspurs,  among  the  hundreds  of  McCown's  longspurs 
that  nest  on  the  prairies  adjacent  to  Lewistown.  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  states 
that  he  rarely  observed  it  beyond  the  Yellowstone,  only  two  or  three  indi- 
viduals being  seen  during  his  journey  up  the  Yellowstone  and  across  to  the 
Musselshell  and  back.  It  is  likely  that  this  longspur  breeds  only  sparingly 
in  the  eastern  districts  of  the  county. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  grayish  brown,  streaked  with 
darker  colors;  head  marked  with  black,  white,  and  dull  yellow;  breast  and 
belly  black;  back  part  of  neck  with  a  prominent  band  of  bright  reddish- 
brown;  female  lacks  the  prominent  colors  of  the  male;  length  5.50-6.50 
inches. 

539.     McCOWN'S    LONGSPUR.      Rhynchophanes    mccownii. 

An  abundant  summer  resident,  breeding  in  numbers  on  the  high 
prairie  districts  of  the  county.  This  longspur  appears  in  this  locality  late 
in  April.  At  first  the  birds  keep  in  flocks,  sitting  on  the  ground  so  closely 
that  an  observer  can  get  among  them  without  detecting  their  presence  until 
he  startles  one  or  more  almost  under  his  feet.  On  such  occasions  the  start- 
led birds  will  fly  a  few  feet,  while  the  remainder  of  the  flock  will  continue 
to  crouch  upon  the  ground.  As  the  days  pass,  the  males  utter  a  low,  trill- 
ing song,  not  greatly  different  from  that  of  the  horned  larks.  Soon  the 
longspurs  scatter  over  the  prairie,  and  the  peculiar  flight-songs  of  the  males 
begin.  Rising  with  twittering,  hurried  chant,  after  an  ascent  of  a  few 
yards,  they  will  drop  downward  with  out-spread,  unmoving  wings,  uttering 
their  gush  of  song,  thus  descending  parachute-like  to  earth. 

The  period  of  nidification  begins  about  the  middle  of  May  in  this 
region,  though  in  some  instances  broods  are  hatched  by  the  end  of  this 
month.  On  May  27,  1900,  I  chanced  upon  a  nest  of  McCown's  longspur 
containing  young  about  three  days  old.  Two  days  later  I  found  a  nest  con- 
taining four  eggs  somewhat  advanced  in  incubation.  The  site  was  a  de- 
pression among  grass-blades,  open  above.  The  nest  was  made  of  dried 
grass  felted  at  the  bottom  with  a  few  downy  pistils,  the  style  of  architecture 
being  very  similar  to  that  followed  by  the  horned  lark.  The  cavity  was 
two  and  one-half  inches  in  diameter,  and  two  inches  in  depth.  A  nest 
found  on  May  29,  1901,  was  in  a  depression  at  the  base  of  a  small  coronilla 
bush,  a  very  common  site,  and  one  most  generally  selected  by  this  longspur. 
The  eggs  are  grayish-olive,  copiously  marked  with  irregular  blotches  of 
dark  brown.  On  May  29,  1903,  I  found  a  nest  of  McCown's  longspur  on  the 


54  BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

elevated  bench  near  Lewistown.  It  was  made  in  a  depression  in  a  small 
tuft  of  grass,  flush  with  the  general  surroundings.  The  material  was 
grayish  dried  grass,  bedded  on  one  side  with  cow-hair.  The  female  flushed 
in  flight  from  the  nest  when  I  was  about  fifteen  feet  from  her.  The  nest 
contained  three  fresh  eggs. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  chiefly  grayish  brown,  streaked 
with  darker;  top  of  head,  and  large  crescent  on  breast,  black;  wing  cov- 
erts reddish-brown;  lower  parts  grayish  white;  female  with  less  prominent 
colors;  tail  white,  with  prominent  black  tips  to  inner  feathers;  length 
&.50-6.50  inches. 
540a.  WESTERN  VESPER  SPARROW.  Pooecetes  gramineus  confinis. 

The  commonest  of  the  summer  sparrows.  It  prefers  the  meadows 
bordering  the  water-courses,  where  its  pleasing  song  is  a  regular  feature 
of  the  springtime.  In  1900,  the  first  western  vesper  sparrow  was  noted  en 
May  1;  in  1901,  the  first  was  seen  on  April  25.  On  May  4,  1901,  the  males 
of  this  species  were  very  common,  and  were  noticeably  prominent  in  -sit- 
ting on  the  fences  along  the  roadside  and  persistently  singing.  They  are 
very  noticeable  during  the  first  half  of  May. 

On  June  4,  1900,  I  found  a  nest  of  this  sparrow  in  a  meadow  bordering 
Big  Spring  Creek,  near  Lewistown.  It  was  made  at  the  base  of  a  sprangling 
bush,  and  was  formed  of  coarse  dried  grass,  and  had  a  lining  of  horsehair. 
The  cavity  averaged  two  and  three-eighths  inches  in  diameter,  and  was 
two  inches  deep.  There  were  four  fresh  eggs.  The  ground  color  of  the 
eggs  is  very  pale  green,  and  they  are  irregularly  dotted  and  blotched  with 
varying  hues  of  reddish-brown. 

My  first  nest  of  this  sparrow  found  in  1901  is  recorded  for  June  6. 
It  was  found  on  the  prairie  near  Little  Casino  Creek,  a  small  feeder  of  Big 
Spring  Creek.  The  nest  was  in  a  depression  sunken  at  the  base  of  a  small 
weed,  sloping  somewhat  under  the  weed,  but  open  above,  well-cupped  and 
heavily  brimmed.  The  brim  of  the  nest  projected  above  the  ground  level 
an  inch.  As  usual,  dried  grass  was  the  only  substance  composing  the 
walls,  the  lining  being  formed  of  fine  dried  grass  and  horsehair.  The  nest 
cavity  measured  two  and  three-fourths  inches  and  two  and  one-half  inches 
major  and  minor  axes,  and  was  two  and  one-half  inches  deep.  The  sitting 
female  was  flushed  as  I  stepped  over  the  nest,  and  she  fluttered  out  directly 
between  my  feet. 

The  vesper  sparrow  takes  its  departure  for  the  south  about  the  end 
of  September. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  brownish  gray,  streaked  with 
darker;  outer  tail  feathers  white,  a  very  helpful  marking  in  identification; 
lower  parts  grayish  white,  upper  part  of  breast  streaked  with  brown;  small 
wing-coverts  marked  with  rusty  brown;  length  6-7  inches. 

542b.     WESTERN   SAVANNA   SPARROW.     Passerculus  sandwichensis 

alaudinus. 

This  sparrow  occurs  commonly  throughout  the  prairie  districts  of 
the  county,  inhabiting  the  hay  meadows  of  the  ranches  in  summer.  In  the 
fall  it  resorts  to  the  weeds  in  the  vicinity  of  irrigating  ditches  and  ponds. 


BIRDS  OF  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA  55 

When  flushed  along  a  ditch,  it  flies  ahead  in  the  ditch,  alighting  on  the 
sides  oi'  the  ditch  where  the  overhanging  grass  affords  it  protection.  It  Is 
one  of  the  shyest  of  the  sparrows,  and  seldom  gives  the  observer  an  op- 
portunity to  study  its  movements  in  an  open  area.  In  his  "Birds  of  Dakota 
and  Montana,"  Dr.  Elliott  Coues  states  that  this  sparrow  breeds  in  profus 
ion  throughout  the  region  explored.  Besides  finding  it  on  the  open  prairie, 
he  found  it  in  the  brush  along  the  streams  and  larger  rivers.  He  saysf 
that  the  nest  is  placed  on  the  ground,  simply  made  of  drluu  grass,  with 
a  lining  of  horsehair;  the  eggs  are  four  or  five  in  number,  usually  laid  in 
the  first  half  of  June.  This  sparrow  can  be  noted  in  this  region  generally 
till  the  end  of  September. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  grayish  brown,  streaked  with 
gray  and  black;  yellow  stripe  over  eye,  and  similar  stripe  in  middle  of 
crown;  lower  parts  whitish,  streaked  on  breast  and  sides;  length  about 
6  inches. 

546a.     WESTERN   GRASSHOPPER   SPARROW.     Coturniculus  savannarum 

bimaculatus. 

A  common  summer  resident.  The  males  are  generally  heard  singing 
their  wheezy  trills  near  Lewistown  about  the  10th  of  May,  increasing  in 
numbers  and  persistency  of  song  until  the  latter  part  of  the  month.  They 
manifest  more  boldness  in  the  execution  of  their  songs  than  at  other  sea- 
sons, as  they  will  sit  on  fence-posts  and  sing  regardless  of  passers-by,  a 
disregard  of  observation  not  shown  by  them  except  in  the  height  of  the 
mating  and  nesting  period. 

Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  reports  that  this  sparrow  was  common  at  intervals 
from  the  Missouri  to  the  Musselshell,  though  much  more  numerous  east 
cf  the  Yellowstone  than  beyond  it. 

Distinguishing   features:      Upper   parts   grayish,    streaked   with    dull 
yellow,  brown,  and  black;  front  of  neck  and  breast  dull  yellow;  chest  and 
sides  streaked  with  brown;  other  lower  parts  dull  white;  front  edge  of  wing 
yellow;  length  about  6  inches. 
552a.     WESTERN   LARK  SPARROW.     Chondestes  grammacus  strigatus. 

This  lark  sparrow  has  never  chanced  under  my  observation,  but  Dr. 
J.  A.  Allen  found  it  to  be  one  of  the  most  abundant  and  generally  diffused 
species,  frequenting  the  edges  of  the  wooded  bottom-lands  and  the  bushy 
ravines,  but  also  found  occasionally  quite  far  out  on  the  prairies.  Dr.  CJ. 
E.  McChesney  reported  in  his  list  of  birds  of  the  Big  Horn  region  that  this 
sparrow  was  quite  common  among  the  pines  in  the  mountains. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  brownish  gray,  back  streaked; 
lower  parts  dull  white;  tail  tipped  with  white;  length  6-7  inches. 

554a.     GAM  BEL'S    SPARROW.      Zonotrichia    leucophrys    gambelii. 

A  regular  migrant,  seen  and  heard  chiefly  in  the  fall,  none  having 
been  noted  as  a  summer  resident.  This  sparrow  appears  on  its  northward 
movement  about  the  20th  of  September,  frequenting  the  edges  of  the  thick- 
ets of  the  streamsides,  and  associating  with  migrant  towhees  and  other 
sparrows.  It  is  partial  to  the  choke-cherry,  buffalo-berry,  aua  scarlet  haw. 


66  BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

On  a  warm  afternoon  of  late  September  or  early  October  it  sits  in  the  haw 
thickets  and  sings  in  low,  subdued  medley,  uttering  a  plaintive  "fear  away" 
in  persistent  repetition.  Now  and  then  one  sparrow  will  chase  another 
out  and  back  into  the  bush  as  in  vernal  sport.  It  is  likely  that  some  rep- 
resentatives of  this  sparrow  stay  in  this  region  throughout  the  winter. 
Capt.  Platte  M.  Thorne  reports  that  this  sparrow  is  tolerably  common  in 
spring  and  fall  at  Ft.  Keogh.  In  south-central  Montana  Messrs.  Richmond 
and  Knowlton  found  it  very  common  in  the  valleys  after  September  1,  and 
they  state  that  it  breeds  in  the  mountains. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  grayish  brown,  streaky;  head 
striped  with  black  and  white,  middle  stripe  white;  lower  parts  grayish  white, 
not  striped;  length  6-7  inches. 

559a.     WESTERN    TREE   SPARROW.     Spizella    monticola   ochracea. 

A  regular  winter  resident  of  this  region,  frequenting  the  thickets 
along  the  water-courses  of  the  prairie  districts.  One  of  the  bright  mornings 
of  late  winter  their  tinkling  notes  give  considerable  animation  to  the  frosty 
surroundings.  When  these  sparrows  appear  on  their  movement  from  the 
north,  usually  early  in  October,  many  of  them  are  in  song,  uttering  their 
pretty  trills  in  rather  subdued  execution.  Very  early  in  the  spring,  or 
rather  in  late  winter,  the  males  begin  their  vernal  singing,  late  February 
and  early  March  giving  renewed  voice  to  these  songsters  of  the  thickets. 
These  sparrows  linger  among  us  until  the  middle  of  April,  after  which  they 
soon  disappear.  I  have  not  noted  their  presence  here  in  mid-winter. 

Distinguishing  features:  Top  of  head  cinnamon  brown;  back  and 
shoulders  brown,  streaked  with  black;  other  upper  parts  grayish  brown; 
wing  coverts  tipped  with  grayish  white;  lower  parts  gray;  length  6-7  inches. 
The  reddish-brown  crown  is  generally  divided  by  a  decided  lighter  middle 
line.  The  middle  of  the  chest  has  a  distinct  dark  spot. 

560a.     WESTERN    CHIPPING   SPARROW.      Spizella   soclalis   arizonae. 

A  summer  resident,  probably  abundantly  represented  everywhere 
throughout  the  county  in  the  vicinity  of  water-courses  and  in  woodlands. 

Distinguishing  features:  Top  of  head  reddish-brown;  lower  parts 
dingy  white,  unstriped;  back  with  narrow  streaks  of  black;  length  5-6 
inches. 

561.     CLAY-COLORED   SPARROW.     Spizella   pallida. 

This  sparrow  is  a  regular  resident  of  the  sage-brush  districts  in  the 
eastern  portions  of  the  county.  I  have  not  noted  its  occurrence  near  Lew- 
istown.  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  found  that  to  the  westward  of  the  Yellowstone,  this 
sparrow  was  replaced  by  Spizella  brewer!,  or  at  least  no  specimens  of 
pallida  were  taken  thereafter.  Dr.  Elliott  Coues  traced  the  clay-colored 
sparrow  along  the  northern  boundary  of  the  state  to  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
It  is  reported  as  nesting  at  Ft.  Keogh,  and  Dr.  McChesney  reported  it  as 
quite  common  in  the  bottom  near  Custer  in  August  and  September. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  light-brown,  streaked  with 
black;  lower  parts  dingy  white,  breast  tinged  with  rusty  brown;  chest  and 
sides  streaky;  length  5-6  inches. 


NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  JUNEO. 
Photo  by  M.  J.  Elrod. 


BIRDS  OF  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA.  57 

562.     BREWER'S    SPARROW.      Spizella   breweri. 

Of  this  species,  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  says  that  it  is  a  common  inhabitant 
of  the  sage  brush  everywhere;  especially  numerous  in  the  valleys  of  the 
Yellowstone  and  Musselshell.  It  is  also  included  in  Thome's  list  of  birds 
breeding  at  Ft.  Keogh. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  light  grayish  brown,  streaked 
with  black;  lower  parts  dingy  white,  streaky;  length  5-6  inches. 

567.1.     MONTANA  JUNCO.     Junco   montanus. 

The  exact  ornithological  status  of  our  junco  in  this  region  is  a  mat- 
ter of  doubt,  which  can  be  determined  only  by  examination  of  many  more 
specimens  than  are  available  for  the  purpose.  Under  the  name  of  Montana 
junco,  Mr.  Robert  Ridgway  cites  Junco  montanus  breeding  in  the  Belt 
Mountains,  while  under  the  name  of  pink-sided  junco,  he  cites  Junco  mearnsi 
as  breeding  in  the  Big  Horn  Mountains.  What  may  be  the  exact  name  of  the 
form  prevailing  in  the  county,  we  know  not;  but  of  our  junco  we  are  cer- 
tain, and  shall  leave  to  others  wiser  than  we  to  christen  him  after  due 
consideration  of  all  his  features. 

The  junco  appears  in  this  region  on  its  northward  movement  about 
the  20th  of  April.  It  frequents  the  thickets  and  shrubbery  along  water- 
courses, and  the  coulees  of  the  foot-hills  and  mountains.  Many  remain 
to  breed  in  the  mountainous  districts,  while  the  majority  push  onward  to 
more  favorite  nesting;  regions.  It  passes  southward  through  this  locality 
in  late  September  and  early  October. 

Distinguishing  features:  Head,  neck,  and  upper  breast  lead  color, 
back  and  shoulders  dark  brown;  sides  pinkish,  other  lower  parts  dingy 
white;  outer  tail  feathers  white;  bill  pinkish;  length  about  7  inches. 

581b.     MOUNTAIN   SONG   SPARROW.     Melospiza  cinerea   montana. 

This  hardy  songster,  the  genial  soloist  of  the  bushes  in  the  early 
spring,  appears  early  in  April,  and  thenceforth  the  charming  songs  of  this 
sparrow  can  be  keard  along  the  streams  wherever  there  are  bushes  to  shel- 
ter it.  It  leaves  us  about  the  middle  of  September. 

Distinguishing  features:     Upper  parts  grayish  brown,  streaky;  lower 
parts  dingy  white,  chest  and  sides  streaky;   length  6-7  inches. 
583.     LINCOLN'S  SPARROW.     Melospiza  lincolnii. 

This  sparrow  is  not  uncommon  as  a  migrant,  loitering  along  the 
water-courses  where  there  are  trees  and  bushes.  I  have  not  noted  it  in  the 
spring,  but  each  fall  a  few  are  seen  in  the  vicinity  of  Big  Spring  Creek 
near  Lewistown.  Chas.  W.  Richmond  and  F.  H.  Knowlton  report  this  spar- 
row as  rather  common  in  south-central  Montana,  and  state  that  it  breeds  in 
the  mountains,  as  a  young  bird  was  taken  on  July  29  at  Traill  Creek.  Capt. 
Platte  M.  Thorne  reports  this  species  as  rare  at  Ft.  Keogh,  having  noted  it 
there  in  early  May. 

Distinguishing  features:  Back  grayish  brown,  streaked  with  black; 
crown  hazel,  streaked  with  black;  lower  parts  dingy  white,  streaky;  broad 
band  of  dull  yellow  across  chest;  length  5-6  inches. 


5S  BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

588.     ARCTIC   TOWHEE.     Pipilo   maculatus   arcticus. 

A  common  inhabitant  of  the  shrubbery  along  the  streams  in  summer. 
On  May  2,  1900,  I  noted  the  first  towhee  of  the  season;  for  1901,  the  first 
towhee  was  noted  on  May  4.  The  towhee  lingers  in  this  region  until  the 
early  part  of  October,  when  the  bulk  of  both  residents  and  migrants  have 
generally  disappeared. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts,  as  well. as  chest,  brownish- 
black;  wing-coverts  and  shoulders  varied  with  white;  breast  and  belly 
white,  sides  reddish-brown;  female  has  brown  instead  of  black;  length 
8-9  inches. 

596.     BLACK-HEADED   GROSBEAK.     Zamelodia   melanocephala. 

This  fine  songster  is  a  common  resident  in  summer  near  Lewistown, 
where  it  frequents  the  thickets  adjacent  to  Big  Spring  Creek.  It  reaches 
our  latitude  in  the  latter  part  of  May,  and  by  the  beginning  of  June  its 
mellow  song  is  a  pleasing  feature  of  the  swelling  chorus  of  birdland. 

Owing  to  the  development  of  the  trees  in  many  parts  of  Lewistown, 
the  black-headed  grosbeak  is  becoming  a  frequent  visitor  in  the  city  in 
early  August.  In  the  late  summer  of  1902,  this  species  was  noticeable 
while  lingering  several  days  in  the  trees  near  Mr.  F.  E.  Wright's  and  James 
Kane's  homes. 

Distinguishing  features:  The  male  has  head  black,  with  throat  and 
crown  varied  with  dull  buffy  cinnamon;  wings  and  tail  black,  with  white 
markings;  collar  around  neck,  rump,  breast,  and  sides  buffy  cinnamon;  belly 
and  under  side  of  wings  light  yellow;  female  with  less  prominent  colors, 
more  streaky;  length  8-9  inches. 

599.     LAZULI    BUNTING.      Cyanospiza    amoena. 

This  handsome  bunting  occurs  regularly  along  the  streams  near 
Lewistown.  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  states  that  it  was  met  with  throughout  his 
journey.  It  has  been  reported  as  breeding  in  the  Big  Horn  Mountains, 
and  it  is  also  one  of  the  most  abundantly  represented  species  of  the  Flat- 
head  Lake  region.  Capt.  Platte  M.  Thome  reports  it  as  rare  at  Ft.  Keogh, 
Messrs.  Richmond  and  Knowlton  state  that  it  is  quite  common  in  the  val- 
leys and  foot-hills  of  south-central  Montana.  Persons  who  are  familiar 
with  the  song  of  the  indigo  bunting  in  eastern  localities  will  readily  recog- 
nize the  lazuli  bunting  from  its  similar  performance,  as  well  as  from  its 
similarity  of  habits. 

Distinguishing  features:     Upper  parts  turquoise-blue;  breast  and  part 
of  sides  reddish-orange;    other  lower  parts  white;    wing  varied  with   two 
white  bands;  female  has  grayish-brown  instead  of  blue;  length  5-6  inches. 
605.     LARK  BUNTING.     Calamospiza  melanocorys. 

This  species  popularly  known  as  the  "white-winged  blackbird,"  is  not 
very  common  in  this  portion  of  the  county.  Each  spring  I  see  several  in 
the  vicinity  of  Lewistown.  One  spring  I  observed  a  specimen  in  tho 
school  grounds,  and  watched  its  leisurely  movements  as  it  gleaned  along 
the  fence.  On  May  27,  1901,  two  lark  bunting  were  noted  on  the  high 
prairie  near  Big  Casino  Creek.  On  June  1,  1901,  two  lark  buntings  were 
seen  on  an  irrigating  ditch  north  of  Lewistown,  and  on  June  5  the  same 


BIRDS  OF  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA  69 

cr  two  other  lark  buntings  were  seen  and  heard  singing  in  the  same 
situation.  Whether  they  were  migrants  or  were  nesting  in  the  locality, 
[  could  not  determine. 

Distinguishing  features:  Plumage  black,  wing-coverts  white,  making 
a  prominent  white  bar;  length  about  7  inches. 

607.     LOUISIANA   TANAGER.      Piranga    ludoviciana. 

This  beautiful  tanager  occurs  commonly  throughout  the  wooded 
districts  of  this  region.  It  is  a  resident  of  the  coniferous  forests  of  the 
foothills  and  mountainous  localities,  though  it  does  not  neglect  the  groves 
of  tall  deciduous  trees  bordering  the  larger  streams.  This  songster  is  the 
most  striking  gem  of  our  woodlands,  glowing  with  unwonted  beauty  in  its 
somber  setting.  Wings  and  tail  are  adorned  with  velvet  jet;  the  head  is 
attired  in  rich  crimson,  while  the  remaining  parts  are  robed  in  bright 
lemon  yellow. 

The  singing  of  the  Louisiana  tanager  is  nearly  like  that  of  the  robin, 
though  it  is  executed  more  nervously  and  brokenly,  and  is  pitched  in 
somewhat  higher  key. 

The  name  Louisiana  tanager  seems  rather  inappropriate  for  one  of 
our  Fergus  County  birds;  but  when  we  remember  that  the  Louisiana  of 
Audubon's  time  embraced  the  larger  part  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  region, 
and  know  that  this  tanager  inhabits  the  chief  part  of  that  extensive  do- 
main, the  name  is  found  to  be  historically  fitting. 

The  nest  of  the  Louisiana  tanager  is  generally  situated  in  coniferous 
trees,  among  the  lower  branches.  In  the  Flathead  Lake  region,  I  found 
a  nest  of  this  tanager  on  July  4,  1903.  It  was  in  a  Douglas  spruce,  on  one 
of  the  stunted  branches  among  the  lowest  bearing  vegetation.  The  site 
was  a  tuft  of  twigs  about  four  feet  from  the  main  stem,  at  a  height  of 
about  twenty-five  feet  from  the  ground.  The  outer  framework  of  the  neat 
was  made  of  coarse  twigs,  within  which  was  a  wall  of  fine  rootlets  with 
a  lining  of  horsehair.  There  were  four  eggs  in  the  nest,  and  their  color  was 
light  bluish  green,  with  minute  -specks  of  blackish  brown. 
611.  PURPLE  MARTIN.  Progne  subis. 

The  purple  martin  has  chanced  under  my  observation  but  once  at 
Lewistown.  On  May  10,  1902,  several  individuals  were  seen  fluttering 
about  an  electric  lamp  on  Main  street.  It  is  likely  that  they  were  tran- 
sients, and  I  have  no  information  that  this  species  spends  the  summer  in 
this  immediate  neighborhood. 

Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  reported  the  purple  martin  as  more  or  less  frequent 
along  the  Yellowstone,  but  did  not  report  its  occurrence  on  the  Mussel- 
shell.  Dr.  McChesney  also  noted  this  species  on  the  Yellowstone. 

Distinguishing  features:  Plumage  glossy  blueish-black,  under  part 
more  dingy;  length  about  8  inches. 

612.     CLIFF   SWALLOW.     Petrochelidon   lunifrons. 

Common  in  local  colonies.  Several  pairs  nested  regularly  under 
the  eaves  of  the  old  school  building  in  Lewistown,  and  a  small  colony  had 
found  quarters  along  the  rocks  about  a  mile  above  town,  attaching  their 
mud-houses  to  the  vertical  sides  of  the  cliffs. 


60  BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

Distinguishing  features:     Upper  parts  chiefly  bluish-black;   forehead 
white;   back  of  neck  grayish  brown;   wing  and  tail  blackish  brown;   rump 
cinnamon;  lower  parts  chiefly  grayish  brown;  length  5-6  inches. 
613.     BARN   SWALLOW.     Hirundo  erythrogastra. 

The  barn  swallow  is  very  generally  distributed  over  the  prairie  dis- 
tricts of  the  county  as  a  summer  resident.  Most  of  the  barns  along  the 
stage  routes,  as  well  as  the  barns  of  the  ranches,  have  small  colonies  of 
this  species.  The  first  barn  swallows  generally  appear  .early  in  May,  and 
after  that  time  their  graceful  evolutions  over  the  water  and  about  the 
ranch-lots  are  a  familiar  part  of  our  summer  avian  life.  They  remain  in 
this  neighborhood  until  the  middle  of  September. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  steel-blue;  forehead  rusty 
brown;  wings  and  tail  blackish;  front  of  neck  and  upper 'breast  cinna- 
mon, enclosed  by  steel-blue  sides  of  chest;  other  lower  parts  varying  cin- 
namon; length  6-7  inches. 

614.     TREE   SWALLOW.      Iridoprocne   bicolor. 

The  tree  swallow  is  found  in  all  suitable  localities  throughout  this 
region.  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  states  that  this  swallow  was  common  at  one 
locality  on  the  Musselshell,  but  not  seen  elsewhere.  Owing  to  the  lack 
of  suitable  conditions,  the  tree  swallow  is  not  found  in  the  immediate 
neighborhood  of  Lewistown.  It  prefers  the  dead  trees  on  the  margins  of 
rivers  and  lakes,  where  it  can  make  its  nest  in  the  deserted  cavities  made 
by  woodpeckers.  Trees  in  places  annually  submerged  by  high  water  are 
the  most  favored  resorts  of  the  tree  swallow,  and  in  such  surroundings  it 
IJves  in  colonies  of  varying  numbers. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  steel-blue,  lower  parts  white; 
length  5-6  inches. 

616.     BANK   SWALLOW.     Riparia   riparis. 

A  very  common  bird  of  the  streams  where  there  are  high  banks  to 
attract  it.  Many  colonies  live  along  Big  Spring  Creek.  This  swallow 
arrives  from  the  south  early  in  May,  generally  in  the  first  week,  and 
remains  until  the  end  of  August. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  grayish  brown;  lower  parts 
white,  chest  and  sides  with  a  band  of  brownish  gray;  length  about  5 
inches. 

618.     BOHEMIAN  WAXWING.     Ampelis  garrulus. 

A  common  visitant  in  winter,  generally  in  ffocks  of  varying  size, 
sometimes  numbering  several  hundred.  On  Feb.  21,  1903,  I  startled  a  large 
f.ock  of  waxwings  in  a  patch  of  rose  bushes  on  Big  Spring  Creek  near 
Lewistown.  They  rose  in  a  dense  body,  with  loud  whir  of  wings,  and  im- 
mediately settled  for  a  few  moments,  after  which  they  again  arose  and 
few  away  far  across  the  town.  They  are  noted  most  commonly  on  a  bright 
day  preceding  or  following  a  storm.  Mrs.  Sloane  told  me  of  an  instance 
\rhen  a  large  flock  of  these  waxwings  alighted  in  a  small  tree  in  F.  B. 
Wright's  dooryard,  at  least  two  hundred  crowding  into  the  tree  and  sitting 
thus  in  compact  array,  as  their  custom  is  when  at  rest.  In  November, 
generally  after  our  first  fall  of  snow,  Bohemian  waxwings  congregate  in  the 


NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  YELLOW  WARBLER. 
Photo  by  M.  J.  Elrod. 


BIRDS  OP  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA  61 

large  trees  along  the  creek  near  Mr.  von  Tobel's  residence  in  Lewistown, 
from  which  they  sally  out  in  irregular  troops  to  feed  in  the  adjacent  clumps 
cf  rose  bushes. 

This  waxwing  appears  along  the  streams  in  the  late  fall.  October 
29,  1898,  was  a  beautiful  autumn  day.  Waxwings  in  numbers  were  fre- 
quenting the  higher  trees  of  the  creekside  above  Lewistown,  flitting  rest- 
lessly about  and  uttering  their  plaintive  lisping  chirp.  They  were  con- 
tinually fluttering  upward  or  outward  from  the  tree-tops,  hovering  in  air 
like  kingbirds  capturing  insects  a-wing.  Their  aerial  movements  were 
much  like  those  of  swallows  over  water,  as  they  sailed,  fluttered,  or 
hovered  with  expanded  tail,  or  mounted  obliquely  upward  with  rapidly 
beating  wings.  Frequently  a  crowded  company  of  them  would  fly  out- 
ward from  some  tree  in  which  they  had  been  sitting,  keeping  together 
in  undulating  flight,  veering  abruptly  upward  or  downward  or  sidewise 
in  capricious  evolution.  In  alighting  they  seemed  partial  to  the  tops  of 
bare  deciduous  trees,  though  numbers  alighted  in  the  sheltering  tops  of  the 
pines.  From  the  conifers  of  the  hillsides  bordering  the  road,  individuals 
would  sally  out  over  the  highway,  greedily  taking  insects  on  the  wing. 
In  one  part  of  the  road  a  brood  of  gnats  was  arising,  and  there  the  wax- 
wings  hovered  most  frequently.  Occasionally  when  flitting  onward  an  in- 
dividual would  dart  obliquely  several  feet,  then  wheel  and  flutter  downward 
like  the  red-headed  woodpecker  in  taking  its  insect  fare  a-wing.  In  all 
their  movements  the  waxwings  reminded  me  of  the  tree  swallows  in  num- 
bers, some  alighting  for  a  few  moments,  others  wheeling  in  air  in  irregular, 
capricious  evolutions. 

Distinguishing  features:  Crown  with  a  long  pointed  crest;  upper 
parts  grayish  brown;  tail  tipped  with  yellow;  secondaries  of  wings  tipped 
with  bright  red,  like  sealing  wax;  under  tail  coverts  cinnamon  brown,  by 
which  it  can  be  distinguished  from  the  cedar  waxwing;  forehead  and  sides 
of  head  like  under  tail  coverts;  length  8-9  inches. 

619.     CEDAR  WAXWING.     Ampelis  cedrorum. 

A  regular  summer  resident,  appearing  later  than  most  of  the  other 
summer  birds,  and  lingering  later  in  the  fall.  During  the  middle  summer 
it  is  an  expert  insect  catcher,  taking  them  on  the  wing  like  the  kingbird 
and  other  flycatchers.  Later  it  feeds  on  the  berries  which  grow  in  pro- 
fusion along  the  streams  and  in  the  coulees  of  the  foothills. 

Distinguishing  features:     Prominent  crest  of  long  pointed  feathers; 
upper  parts  grayish  brown;   secondaries  tipped  with  bright  red;  tail  tipped 
with  yellow;   under  tail  coverts  white,  by  which  it  can  always  be  distin- 
guished from  the  Bohemian  waxwing;    length  about  7  inches. 
621.     NORTHERN  SHRIKE.     Lanlus  borealis. 

A  regular  winter  visitor  in  this  region.  On  Feb.  2,  1902,  a  shrike  was 
seen  in  Lewistown  toward  evening,  sitting  on  a  telephone  pole.  As  I  ap- 
proached to  observe  it  more  closely,  it  flew  to  another  similar  position 
nearby.  Upcn  being  again  disturbed,  it  flew  away  over  the  town  out  of 
view. 

On  March  22,  1902,  a  shrike  was  observed  hunting  in  the  thicket 


62  BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

back  of  Crowley's  ranch  near  town.  The  forager  was  first  noticed  flying  in- 
to the  top  of  a  cottonwood  tree.  It  had  scarcely  settled,  however,  when 
it  flew  down  to  the  edge  of  the  creek  bank,  not  twenty  feet  from  me, 
seized  a  mouse  venturing  out  of  its  burrow,  and  after  a  sharp  squeak  by 
the  victim,  the  shrike  returned  to  the  tree  with  its  prey.  I  was  surprised 
&.t  the  power  of  vision  of  the  shrike,  and  at  the  display  of  audacity  in  thus 
picking  up  its  victim  almost  under  my  feet. 

Distinguishing   features:      Upper    parts    ashy    gray,    with    shoulders, 
rump,  and  upper  tail  coverts  lighter;    sides  of  head  marked  with  black; 
lower  parts  white,  breast  and  sides  barred  with  gray;   length  10-11  inches. 
622a.     WHITE-RUMPED  SHRIKE.     Lanius   ludovicianus  excubitorides. 

This  shrike  is  not  uncommon  as  a  summer  resident  of  this  region. 
Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  states  that  a  few  pairs  were  met  with,  widely  scattered 
throughout  the  whole  district  traversed  by  the  expedition.  Dr.  C.  E.  Mc- 
Chesney  says  that  in  the  Big  Horn  region  this  shrike  was  observed  in  the 
mountains  in  some  numbers.  Dr.  Elliott  Coues  reported  that  along  the 
northern  boundary  of  the  state,  the  white-rumped  shrike  was  common 
in  suitable  localities.  Capt.  Platte  M.  Thome  reports  this  species  as  rare 
at  Ft.  Keogh.  Messrs.  Richmond  and  Knowlton  note  that  this  shrike  is 
common  in  the  valleys  in  south-central  Montana. 

Distinguishing  features:  Like  the  northern  shrike,  but  smaller, 
length  8-10  inches;  sides  but  faintly  tinged  with  gray. 

624.     RED-EYED  VIREO.     Vireo  olivaceus. 

One  of  the  common  summer  birds  of  the  region.  It  inhabits  the 
deciduous  groves  in  the  bottomlands  of  the  larger  streams,  associating 
with  yellow  warbler,  catbird,  black-headed  grosbeak,  and  birds  of  similar 
resorts.  Its  nest  is  placed  in  a  drooping  fork  near  the  extremity  of  a 
branch,  being  attached  to  the  twigs  by  its  brim. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  olive-green;  lower  parts  light- 
er; length  about  6  inches. 

627.     WARBLING   VIREO.     Vireo   gilvus. 

A  regular  summer  resident  in  suitable  localities.  Among  the  haw 
and  willow  thickets  this  vocalist  can  be  seen  and  heard,  spending  its  time 
in  gleaning  its  insect  fare  from  the  foliage,  or  caring  for  its  household 
a  swing  in  the  fork  of  some  low-bending  twig.  The  female  warbling  vireo 
has  a  pretty  habit  of  sitting  in  her  nest  and  singing  in  response  to  her 
mate. 

The  nests  of  the  vireos  are  worthy  of  special  mention.  They  are 
always  suspended  by  the  brim  in  a  small  fork  of  a  slightly  drooping 
branch.  The  exterior  walls  of  the  swinging  habitation  are  made  of  strips 
of  pliant  bark,  with  which  are  interwoven  shreds  of  birch  bark,  bits  of 
gossamer,  and  scraps  of  hornet  paper.  The  nest  is  lined  with  fine  dried 
grass.  The  eggs  are  delicately  white,  with  dots  and  specks  of  blackish 
brown. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  olive-gray,  tinged  with  green- 
ish on  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts;  white  streak  over  eye;  lower  part* 
white,  tinged  with  yellow;  length  about  5  inches. 


BIRDS  OF  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA  63 

652.     YELLOW    WARBLER.      Dendroica   aestiva. 

This  beautiful  songster,  the  familiar  yellow  bird  of  our  groves  and 
thickets,  is  abundant  in  summer  in  the  woodlands  of  our  prairie  districts. 
By  the  second  week  of  May,  the  ringing  ditties  of  this  warbler  make  the 
groves  vocal  with  melody.  One  Memorial  Day  of  a  belated  season,  a 
company  of  yellow  warblers  and  goldfinches  had  congregated  in  the  trees 
en  the  creek  near  the  home  of  Rudolf  von  Tobel,  and  as  they  flitted  here 
and  there  among  the  branches,  uttering  their  gentle  snatches  of  song,  the 
scene  was  one  to  attract  the  attention  of  any  friend  of  the  birds. 

The  yellow  warbler  nests  in  the  low  bushes  of  its  resorts,  selecting 
a  site  in  an  upright  crotch  between  three  and  eight  feet  from  the  ground, 
though  at  times  nests  are  found  in  higher  situations.  The  nest  is  made  of 
strips  of  weed-bark,  and  shreds  of  grayish  material,  felted  within  with 
downy  pistils  and  other  soft  substances.  The  eggs  have  a  greenish,  white 
background,  and  are  marked  with  varying  shades  of  dark  brown. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  yellowish  olive;  lower  parts 
pamboge  yellow,  chest  and  sides  streaked  with  reddish  brown;  length 
about  5  inches. 

646.     ORANGE-CROWNED   WARBLER.      Helminthophila   celata. 

This  warbler  is  not  uncommon  as  a  migrant  in  this  region,  and  its 
occurrence  has  been  noted  chiefly  in  early  spring.  Capt.  Thome  found  it 
common  in  April  and  May  at  Ft.  Keogh.  Messrs.  Richmond  and  Knowlton 
reported  its  occurrence  in  south-central  Montana  early  in  September. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  dark  olive-green;  head  with 
a  crown-patch  of  concealed  orange-red;  lower  parts  pale  yellow,  frequently 
indistinctly  streaked  with  darker;  length  about  5  inches. 

655.     MYRTLE   WARBLER.     Dendroica   coronata. 

This  handsome  warbler  is  a  common  migrant  near  Lewistown,  where 
it  is  noted  chiefly  in  the  spring.  On  April  26,  1903,  a  male  in  fine  plumage 
was  taken  in  a  thicket  near  Big  Spring  Creek,  where  it  was  in  company 
v.ith  another,  both  in  song.  Capt.  Thorne  reports  the  species  common  at 
Ft.  Keogh  in  the  spring. 

Distinguishing  features:  Crown  with  a  yellow  stripe;  rump,  and 
spot  on  side  of  breast,  yellow;  other  upper  parts  chiefly  bluish  gray, 
striped  with  black;  wings  with  two  bands  of  white;  throat  and  belly 
white;  breast  streaked  with  black;  outer  tail  feathers  with  inner  webs 
marked  with  white;  female  with  duller  colors;  length  5-6  inches.  Easily  dis- 
tinguished from  Audubon's  warbler  by  having  throat  white,  instead  of 
yellow,  and  by  the  white  stripes  in  front  of  and  behind  the  eye. 

656.     AUDUBON'S   WARBLER.      Dendroica  auduboni. 

A  resident  of  the  higher  mountainous  regions  in  summer.  This 
v/arbler  frequents  the  tall  coniferous  trees,  flitting  actively  among  the  fol- 
iage in  quest  of  food,  and  singing  in  well-voiced  measures  as  it  pursues 
its  domestic  duties.  The  song  is  somewhat  like  that  of  the  Townsend 
warbler,  but  is  continued  where  that  of  the  latter  ends,  by  the  addition  of 
several  "zee"  syllables.  In  this  region  the  singing  of  the  Audubon  war- 


64  BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

bier   is   heard   much   later   in   the    summer   than   that    of   the     Townsend 
warbler. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  bluish  gray,  back  streaky; 
Dead  with  a  partially  concealed  crown  of  yellow;  rump  yellow;  throat 
yellow;  large  patch  of  white  on  wings;  other  lower  parts  whitish,  streaked 
with  black;  length  5-6  inches. 

661.     BLACK-POLL   WARBLER.      Dendroica  striata. 

A  regular  migrant,  the  first  for  1903  having  been  seen  May  13.  At 
the  close  of  the  storm  which  prevailed  during  the  week  of  May  16-23, 
1903,  a  specimen  of  black-poll  warbler  was  sent  me  from  Deerfield  by  Mr. 
Theo.  Hogeland.  It  was  a  male,  which  had  evidently  fallen  a  victim  of  the 
storm.  The  skin  is  now  in  the  collection  of  the  Fergus  County  high  school. 
This  warbler  is  reported  as  common  at  Ft.  Keogh,  where  Capt.  Thorne 
met  it  as  a  migrant  in  the  latter  part  of  May. 

Distinguishing  features:     Crown,  black;   sides  of  head,  throat,  under 
parts,  and  edges  of  wing-coverts,  white;    upper  parts   striped  with  black, 
gray,  and  darker;  sides  streaked  with  black;  length  about  5  inches. 
675a.     GRINNELL'S   WATER-THRUSH.     Seiurus   noveboracensis    notabilis. 

Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  notes  that  a  water-thrush,  probably  S.  noveboracensis 
Nutt.,  was  seen  at  the  Big  Bend  of  the  Musselshell.  Capt  Platte  M.  Thorne 
leports  a  specimen  taken  at  Ft.  Keogh  September  12,  1889.  This  water- 
thrush  is  a  very  common  resident  of  the  Flathead  region  in  summer,  where 
its  loud,  clearly  enunciated  song  is  a  characteristic  of  the  swamp-woods. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  grayish  brown;  dull  yellow 
stripe  above  eye;  lower  parts  whitish,  with  a  yellow  tinge,  streaky;  length 
about  6  inches. 

680.     MACGILLIVRAY'S  WARBLER.     Geothlypis  tolmiei. 

This  handsome  ground  warbler  is  a  regular  summer  resident  of  the 
foothills  and  mountains  in  the  western  districts  of  the  county,  and  is  oc- 
casionally noted  in  the  more  eastern  portions.  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  says  that 
it  was  seen  a  few  times  along  the  Musselshell.  It  is  likely  that  this  warbler 
occurs  in  the  Judith  and  Moccasin  Mountains,  though  I  have  no  informa- 
tion regarding  such  occurrence. 

Distinguishing  features:     Head,  neck,  and  chest  ashen-gray;  sides  of 
head  varied  with  black;   other  upper  parts  olive-green;   other  lower  parts 
bright  yellow;  length  5-6  inches. 
681a.     WESTERN    YELLOW-THROAT.      Geothlypis   trichas    occidentalis. 

A  common  inhabitant  of  this  region  in  summer,  usually  appearing 
in  the  second  week  of  May,  and  announcing  its  presence  by  its  familiar 
"wich-i-ty,  wich-i-ty,  wich-i-ty"  song,  one  easily  identified  after  once  being 
closely  noticed.  The  male  yellow-throat  is  a  handsome  little  creature,  eas- 
ily recognized  by  the  black  mask  marking  the  face  and  upper  part  of  the 
head,  the  other  parts  being  bright  yellow.  The  female  is  no  less  hand- 
some, having  a  plumage  of  bright  yellow,  the  throat  being  noticeably 
bright,  but  she  lacks  the  black  marking  of  the  male  and  hence  is  more 
easily  confounded  with  other  yellow  birds.  This  warbler  resorts  to  the 
vveeds  and  bushes  of  moist  places,  irrigating  ditches,  and  borders  of  ponds 


NEST  AND  EGGS  OF  WESTERN  YELLOW-THROAT. 
Photo  by  M.  J.  Elrod. 


BIRDS  OF  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA  65 

and  streams.     Its  nest  is  placed  in  a  tuft  of  grass,  generally  about  eight 

inches  i'rom  the  ground;   it  is  made  of  coarse  weed-stems,  lined  with  finer 

grasses.     The  eggs   are  rosy-white,   dotted  and  blotched  with   dark-brown. 

633a.     LONG-TAILED  CHAT.     Icteria  virens   longicauda. 

A  common  summer  resident  of  this  region,  frequenting  the  bushy 
tracts  in  the  vicinity  of  the  streams  and  irrigating  ditches.  It  does  not  ap- 
pear until  late  in  May,  but  is  generally  established  in  song  by  the  end 
of  the  month.  The  first  that  I  noted  of  this  songster  was  at  John  Glancy's 
grove  on  Big  Spring  Creek,  where  a  few  pairs  nest  in  the  shrubbery.  Later 
I  observed  it  at  other  localities  in  the  neighborhood,  but  its  distribution  is 
governed  by  such  conditions  as  it  desires.  It  is  a  most  loquacious  musical 
performer,  its  productions  being  a  series  of  schoolboy-like  whistles  and 
grotesque  imitations.  This  chat  may  claim  a  place  among  our  bird-beau- 
ties— a  yellow  bird,  rather  smaller  than  the  catbird,  whistling  from  the 
shrubbery  and  smaller  trees,  though  loath  to  allow  the  observer  a  fair 
view  of  it,  as  somehow  it  has  a  trick  of  always  keeping  behind  a  bit  of 
foliage  when  one  desires  to  watch  it. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  olive-gray;  lower  parts  rich 
yellow,  belly  whitish;  length  7-8  inches. 

687.     AMERICAN   REDSTART.     Setophaga  ruticilla. 

A  common  summer  resident,  frequenting  the  groves  and  thickets 
of  the  larger  streams.  Flitting  among  the  leaves  in  quest  of  insects,  the 
redstart  reveals  a  wealth*  of  color  as  it  spreads  its  black  wings,  showing 
their  flame-yellow  lining,  and  spreads  its  fan-like  tail  marked  with  bands 
of  orange  color.  Its  song  is  a  short  ditty  very  similar  to  that  of  the  yel- 
low warbler.  In  some  fork  formed  by  a  small  twig  with  a  larger  upright 
branch,  from  six  to  twenty  feet  from  the  ground,  the  nest  of  the  redstart 
may  be  found,  a  tiny  cup-shaped  structure  scarcely  larger  than  that  of  the 
humming-bird's.  It  is  made  of  strippings  of  bark,  fibers  of  weed-stems, 
and  gossamer,  lined  with  fine  grasses.  The  eggs  are  white  or  grayish- 
white,  marked  irregularly  with  reddish-brown. 

During  the  chilling  storm  of  May  17,  1903,  a  male  redstart  fell  ex- 
hausted in  the  snow  near  my  home.  It  was  brought  in  the  house  and  carerl 
for,  but  was  found  dead  the  next  morning.  On  May  23,  while  the  same  storm 
was  continuing,  another  redstart  was  seen  flying  along  Main  street,  fre- 
quently falling;  but  rising  and  resuming'  its  course  after  a  short  rest. 
Hundreds  of  the  weaker  birds  doubtless  perished  in  this  storm. 
697.  AMERICAN  PIPIT.  Anthus  pensilvanicus. 

A  regular  migrant,  appearing  in  flocks  about  the  last  week  of  Sep- 
tember, and  thereafter  noticeable  until  bad  winter  weather.  It  is  probable 
that  specimens  may  be  seen  during  the  milder  parts  of  the  winter,  though 
I  have  no  record  of  such  occurrence.  They  are  seen  most  frequently  in 
meadows  near  marshes  or  boggy  places.  On  Oct.  15,  1902,  I  took  a  specimen 
along  the  irrigating  ditch  north  of  Lewistown,  where  several  pipits  were 
associating  with  migrating  sparrows.  In  the  spring  they  are  oftenest  seen 
In  small  flocks  on  the  elevated  prairies,  in  company  with  longspurs,  horned 
larks,  and  snow  buntings.  The  usual  call  of  the  pipit  is  suggestive  of  its 


66          BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL. 

name,  as  it  is  greatly  like  the  syllables  "quit  it."     This  call,  uttered  sev- 
eral times  in  repetition,  forms  the  fall  song  of  the  pipit. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  grayish  brown,  streaky;  dull 
yellow  stripe  above  the  eye;  lower  parts  dull  yellow,  streaky;  length  6-7 
inches. 

700.     SPRAGUE'S  PIPIT.     Anthus  spragueii. 

Not  common  as  a  summer  resident.  On  May  29,  1901,  I  found  a  nest 
of  Sprague's  pipit  on  the  high  prairie  west  of  Lewistown.  It  was  made  in 
a  cavity  in  the  ground  at  the  base  of  a  small  coronilla  bush,  flush  with  the 
surroundings.  It  was  made  of  fine  dried  grass,  the  cavity  measuring  inter- 
iorly two  and  one-half  inches  and  two  inches  major  and  minor  axes,  and 
two  inches  deep.  The  female  started  from  the  nest  when'  I  was  about 
six  feet  away,  and  as  she  displayed  the  white  of  her  outer  tail  feathers,  my 
first  thought  was  vesper  sparrow.  The  different  flight,  however,  and  the 
general  structure  of  the  nest,  together  with  the  entirely  different  eggs  in 
the  nest,  told  a  different  story.  There  were  four  eggs,  perfectly  fresh. 
In  form  they  appear  much  elongate. 

Distinguishing  features:     Upper  parts  streaked  with  grayish  yellow, 
brown,  and  dusky;  two  outer  tail  feathers  chiefly  white;  lower  parts  dingy 
white,  tinged  with  yellow;   chest  buffy,  streaked;   length  6-7  inches. 
701.     AMERICAN   DIPPER.     Cinclus  mexicanus. 

The  American  dipper  has  not  chanced  under  my  personal  observation 
near  Lewistown,  but  well-informed  persons  report  to  me  that  it  is  seen 
here  frequently,  playing  in  the  falls  at  the  electric  light  plant.  It  is  a  regu- 
lar resident  in  summer  along  the  mountain  streams. 

Distinguishing  features:  Plumage  slate-gray,  head  and  neck  brown- 
ish; length  about  8  inches. 

702.     SAGE   THRASHER.     Oroscoptes   montanus. 

Noted  by  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  as  occurring  along  the  Musselshell,  and 
"seen  only  at  intervals,  either  singly  or  two  or  three  together,  and  very 
difficult  to  approach.  Frequents  the  sage  brush  and  grease  wood,  ofter  fai 
away  from  streams  or  timber."  I  have  not  observed  this  species  near 
Lewistown.  Capt.  Thome  reports  it  as  rare  in  the  vicinity  of  Ft.  Keogh. 
Messrs.  Richmond  and  Knowlton  note  its  occurrence  in  south-central  Mon- 
tana. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  brownish-gray,  wings  with  two 
white  bands;  outer  tail  feathers  varied  with  white;  lower  parts  dingy 
Y/hite,  partially  tinged  with  dull  yellowish,  and  partially  spotted  and 
streaked  with  dusky;  length  8-9  inches. 

704.     CATBIRD.     Galeoscoptes   carolinensis. 

A  common  resident  of  the  shrubbery  in  summer,  manifesting  tn© 
characteristics  that  distinguish  it  elsewhere  throughout  its  extensive 
range. 

Distinguishing  features:  Plumage  leaden-slaty,  top  of  head  and  tail 
black;  under  tail-coverts  reddish  brown:  length  8-9  inches. 


BIRDS  OP  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA.  67 

705.     BROWN    THRASHER.      Toxostoma    rufum. 

Mentioned  in  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen's  list,  as  "more  or  less  common  every- 
where in  the  thickets  along  the  streams  from  the  Missouri  to  the  Mussel- 
shell."  On  several  occasions  in  the  spring  I  have  heard  its  song  along  Big 
Spring  Creek,  but  have  not  been  able  otherwise  to  determine  its  occur- 
rence here.  Mr.  Theo.  Hogeland  reports  it  as  common  at  Deerfleld. 

Distinguishing  features:     Upper  parts  reddish  cinnamon;  lower  parts 
dusky  white,  with  spots  of  dark  brown;   length  11-12  inches. 
715.     ROCK   WREN.     Salpinctes  obsoletus. 

A  common  summer  resident  in  suitable  localities.  It  inhabits  the 
steep  hillside  along  Big  Spring  Creek  south  of  town,  where  its  peculiar  song 
can  be  heard  in  the  spring.  It  doubtless  frequents  similar  localities  in 
other  portions  of  the  county.  Capt.  Thorne  reports  it  as  common  and 
breeding  in  the  bad  lands  in  the  vicinity  of  Ft.  Keogh.  Messrs.  Richmond 
and  Knowlton  found  the  rock  wren  quite  abundant  in  south-central  Mon« 
tana. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  grayish  brown,  sparsely  speck- 
led with  darker;  tail  varied  with  black  and  reddish  brown;  under  parts 
dingy  white,  barred  with  dusky;  length  about  6  inches. 

721b.     WESTERN   HOUSE  WREN.     Troglodytes  aedon  aztecus. 

A  very  common  summer  resident,  probably  everywhere  throughout 
the  county  except  in  the  higher  mountainous  districts.  The  first  wrens 
appear  near  Lewistown  early  in  May,  and  soon  their  singing  is  a  common 
feature  of  the  approaching  spring  season.  The  wren  resorts  most  com- 
monly to  the  ranches  and  settled  surroundings,  but  open  woods  or  cleared 
areas  always  attract  it,  as  in  such  places  it  caoi  find  suitable  cavities  for 
nesting.  It  is  very  generally  represented  along  the  streams  wherever 
there  is  timber  of  any  size. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  grayish  brown,  barred  with 
darker;  under  parts  dull  white,  slightly  barred  with  darker;  length  about 
5  inches. 

722.     WINTER  WREN.     Anorthura  hiemalis. 

The  only  specimens  of  winter  wren  observed  by  me  in  this  neigh- 
borhood were  noted  in  the  fall,  and  on  such  occasions  it  has  been  in  song — 
not  such  overflowing,  continuous  gushes  of  melody  as  mark  the  vernal 
and  summer  seasons,  but  in  a  less  degree  tuneful,  singing  from  the  base 
of  some  brush-heap  or  other  similar  shelter. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  dark  brown,  brighter  on  pos- 
terior parts;  under  parts  dull  white,  posterior  portion  barred  with  dusky; 
length  about  4  inches. 

726b.     ROCKY    MOUNTAIN    CREEPER.      Certhia    famlliarls    montana. 

Occurs  regularly  throughout  the  wooded  districts  of  this  region,  but 
more  common  in  the  foothills  and  mountains. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  dark  brown,  streaky,  brighter 
on  rump;  lower  parts  whitish;  length  about  5  inches. 


68          BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

727c.     ROCKY   MOUNTAIN   NUTHATCH.     Sitta  caolinensis   nelsoni. 

A  common  resident  throughout  this  region,  inhabiting  the  wooded 
districts  of  the  foothills  and  the  mountainous  localities,  and  also  occurring 
less  commonly  among  the  groves  of  deciduous  trees  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
water-courses. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  bluish  gray,  top  of  head  black, 
sides  of  neck  white,  wings  varied  with  black;  under  parts  white;  length  5-6 
inches. 

728.     RED-BREASTED   NUTHATCH.     Sitta  canadensis. 

Not  uncommon  in  the  wooded  foothills  and  mountains.  Messrs. 
Richmond  and  Knowlton  took  specimens  at  low  elevations  in  September  in 
south-central  Montana. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  bluish  gray,  top  and  sides  of 
head  black;  white  stripe  above  eye;  under  parts  light  rusty  red;  length 
4-5  inches. 

730.     PYGMY  NUTHATCH.     Sitta  pygmaea. 

Dr.  J.  G.  Cooper,  in  "The  Fauna  of  Montana  Territory,"  says  that 
flocks  of  this  little  bird  were  met  with  at  intervals  from  the  eastern 
base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  in  August,  frequenting  the  open  woods  of 
pine,  and  were  more  gregarious,  lively,  and  noisy  than  the  other  nut- 
hatches, constantly  chirping  like  young  chickens,  and  like  them  seeking 
insects  more  among  the  leaves  than  in  the  bark. 

Distinguishing  features:     Upper  parts  dull  bluish  gray,  top  of  head 
brown;   lower  parts  dull  white;   length  about  4  inches. 
735a.     LONG-TAILED    CHICKADEE.      Parus    atricapillus   septentrionalis. 

A  common  resident  of  the  timber  and  bushy  tracts  along  the  water- 
courses, and  also  occurring  everywhere  in  the  wooded  foothills  and  moun- 
tains. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  ash-gray,  wings  varied  with 
white;  lower  parts  dingy  white,  with  a  faint  yellowish  tinge;  top  of  head 
black;  length  5-6  inches. 

738.     MOUNTAIN   CHICKADEE.     Parus   gambeli. 

A  regular  resident  of  the  wooded  foothills  and  mountains,  though 
less  common  than  the  other  chickadee  in  lower  altitudes. 

Distinguishing  features:  Much  like  the  long-tailed  chickadee,  but 
easily  known  by  the  white  stripe  above  the  eye.  The  wing-coverts  also 
lack  the  whitish  edgings  which  are  noticeable  in  the  other  species. 

748.  GOLDEN-CROWNED  KINGLET.     Regulus  satrapa. 
Occurs  regularly  in  summer  throughout  the  mountains  of  this  region. 
Distinguishing  features:     Upper  parts  grayish-olive,  wing-coverts  with 

whitish  edges;  crown  with  a  patch  of  orange-red,  bordered  by  yellow  with- 
in black;  lower  parts  dull  white;  length  about  4  inches. 

749.  RUBY-CROWNED   KINGLET.     Regulus  calendula. 

Found  regularly  in  the  mountainous  districts  of  this  region.  In  the 
summer  of  1903,  I  found  the  ruby-crowned  kinglet  nesting  in  the  Flathead 
Lake  region.  A  nest  was  taken  on  July  6,  which  was  situated  in  a  fir  tree 
beside  a  road  through  the  woods.  The  nest  was  near  the  extremity  of  a 


NEST  OF  RUBY-CROWNED  KINGLET. 

Photo  by  M.  J.  Elrod. 


BIRDS  OP  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA  C9 

branch  about  fifteen  feet  from  the  ground.  It  was  partially  saddled  on  an 
oblique  twig  on  the  under  side  of  the  branch,  and  partially  pendent  from 
several  twigs.  The  structure  resembled  a  ball  of  lichen,  of  which  it  was 
chiefly  composed,  having  also  deerhair,  gossamer,  and  shreds  of  bark 
wrought  in  the  walls.  In  outward  dimensions  it  was  four  inches  wide  and 
three  inches  deep.  On  the  day  mentioned  the  nest  contained  eight  young 
about  ready  to  fly. 

Distinguishing  features:      Upper  parts  grayish-olive;    much  like  the 
preceding  species;   crown  with  a  patch  of  bright  scarlet-red. 

754.     TOWNSEND'S    SOLITAIRE.      Myadestes    townsendii. 
This  species  has  been  seen  by  me  but  once  in  the  vicinity  of  Lewis- 
town,  when  a  single  individaul  was  observed  in  the  fall  in  a  willow  thicket 
on  the  Day  ranch.     It  was  catching  insects  among  the  trees,  acting  much 
like  one  of  the  larger  flycatchers,  but  flitting  about  low  among  the  slender 
tree-trunks.    It  was  not  noticeably  shy,  and  allowed  me  to  watch  its  move- 
ments at  a  satisfactory  distance.     Capt.  Thome  found  it  rare  at  Ft.  Keogh. 
Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  brownish-gray,  lower  parts  light- 
er; tail  feathers  varied  with  white;  length  8-10  inches. 

756a.  WILLOW  THRUSH.  Hylocichla  fuscescens  salicicola. 
Not  uncommon  as  a  summer  resident  in  the  thickets  and  groves  of 
the  water-courses.  On  June  8,  1901,  I  found  a  nest  of  this  thrush  in  a 
willow  clump  near  Big  Spring  Creek.  The  brim  of  the  nest  was  fourteen 
inches  from  the  ground,  in  the  base  of  a  clump  of  small  willow.  The  nest 
was  made  of  coarse  weed-stems  and  strips  of  bark,  lined  with  aner  dried 
grass  stems,  and  bedded  with  pieces  of  dried  leaves.  The  cavity  was  three 
inches  across  and  two  inches  deep.  There  were  only  two  eggs,  upon  which 
the  female  had  been  sitting  since  June  5,  but  they  showned  no  signs  of 
incubation.  When  I  was  near  the  nest,  the  female  flitted  about  nearby, 
but  made  no  sound  of  any  sort.  The  eggs  of  this  thrush  are  deep  green, 
generally  unmarked,  but  sometimes  marked  with  fine,  almost  invisible  dota 
of  blackish-brown.  The  nest  is  usually  situated  on  a  mass  of  muddy  and 
decayed  leaves,  as  was  the  case  in  the  instance  recorded. 

Distinguishing  features:     Upper  parts  russet-olive;  lower  parts  gray- 
ish brown,  chest  buffy  with  spots  of  dark  brown;   length  7-8  inches. 
753a.     OLIVE-BACKED   THRUSH.     Hylocichla   ustulatus  swainsonif. 

A  regular  migrant  in  this  region,  seen  chiefly  in  the  spring.  Capt. 
Thome  reports  it  as  abundant  in  the  spring,  rare  in  the  fall,  at  Ft.  Keogh. 
Messrs.  Richmond  and  Knowlton  secured  young  birds  at  Mystic  Lake  OB 
July  27,  south-central  Montana.  This  species  was  found  to  be  one  of  the 
most  common  summer  birds  of  the  Flathead  Lake  region. 

During  the  severe  storm  of  May  17-23,  1903,  numbers  of  this  thrush 
appeared  in  town,  many  of  them  seeking  shelter  under  the  high  side-walks 
and  in  porches.  Hundreds  of  thrushes  were  no  doubt  in  the  neighborhood, 
as  several  could  be  seen  in  every  block  in  town  except  on  Main  Street, 
and  they  appeared  to  be  equally  numerous  in  neighboring  places.  One  that 
had  perished  in  the  storm  was  sent  me  from  Deerfield  by  Theo.  Hogeland, 
Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  dark  grayish  olive;  chest  pale 


70  BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL. 

buffy,  with  large  triangular  spots  of  dusky;   length  about  7  inches.     A  no- 
ticeable ring  of  buffy  white  around  the  eye. 

761a.     WESTERN    RCBiN.      Merula    rr.igratoria    propinqua. 

Very  common  as  a  summer  resident  throughout  this  region.  The  first 
robins  usually  appear  in  the  first  week  of  April,  and  after  the  middle  of 
the  month  they  are  generally  musical.  They  begin  to  nest  early  in  May, 
inhabiting  the  willow  groves  beside  the  streams,  as  well  as  suitable  situa- 
tions about  the  ranches  and  settlements.  In  the  fall  they  congregate  in 
the  mountain  coulees  and  thickets  where  berries  are  abundant,  and  remain 
until  the  end  of  October  in  ordinary  seasons,  singing  cheerfully  as  they 
feast  during  the  day  on  the  clustering  berries.  •  Trustworthy  ranchers 
frequently  report  that  several  robins  and  bluebirds  reside  throughout  the 
winter  at  Castle  Rock,  or  at  least  appear  in  late  winter.  It  was  also  re- 
ported to  me  that  a  pair  of  robins  wintered  in  a  coulee  in  the  Judith  Moun- 
tains. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  gray,  head  and  neck  darker, 
frequently  blackish;  breast  reddish-brown,  other  lower  parts  whitish; 
length  10-11  inches. 

768.     MOUNTAIN   BLUEBIRD.     Sialla  arctica. 

A  regular  summer  resident,  though  not  occurring  as  commonly  as 
circumstances  might  warrant.  On  the  next  morning  after  my  arrival  in 
Lewistown,  Aug.  29,  when  all  the  western  birds  were  new  to  me,  I  saw  a 
small  troop  of  this  bluebird  flitting  about  in  the  warm  sunshine  near  the 
old  school  building  on  the  bench  in  the  south-western  part  of  town.  They 
were  silent,  and  were  not  inclined  to  allow  close  observation.  Soon  they 
passed  from  the  neighborhood. 

Distinguishing  features:  Upper  parts  cerulean-blue,  wings  and  tail 
azure;  lower  parts  light  blue,  posterior  portion  white;  length  7-8  inches. 


INTRODUCED   SPECIES 

289.     BOB-WHITE.     Colinus  virginianus. 

This  species  has  been  successfully  introduced  into  several  localities 
Gf  Fergus  county,  where  it  has  become  one  of  the  familiar  birds  of  the 
neighborhood.  It  is  well  represented  in  the  vicinity  of  Utica,  and  can  fre- 
quently be  seen  feeding  near  the  feed-yards  and  grain-stacks.  A  strict 
observance  and  enforcement  of  the  law  protecting  this  prince  of  prairie 
game-birds  will  result  in  the  rapid  spread  of  bob-white,  as  the  brushy  cou- 
lees near  the  ranches  are  admirably  suited  to  the  habits  of  this  species. 
HOUSE  SPARROW.  Passer  domesticus. 

This  species,  the  so-called  English  sparrow,  has  only  recently  in- 
raded  Montana.  Last  summer  a  few  pairs  established  themselves  in  Helena. 
This  spring,  1903,  a  single  pair  was  noted  at  the  court  house  by  Mr.  James 
Croft,  and  this  pair  formed  the  nucleus  of  a  small  troop  which  now  can 
be  seen  wandering  over  the  city  of  Lewistown.  These  sparrows  multiply 
rapidly,  and  in  a  short  time  they  will  manifest  all  the  traits  which  char- 
acterize their  life  in  the  cities. 


EXPLANATION 

In  the  foregoing  list,  the  number  accompanying  each  title  is  the 
number  assigned  to  the  species  in  the  American  Ornithologists'  Unioa 
Check-List  of  North  American  Birds.  The  length  of  a  bird  is  the  distance 
from  the  tip  of  the  bill  to  the  end  of  the  tail,  as  it  lies  on  its  back.  Resident 
birds  are  those  which  remain  with  us  during  all  seasons  of  the  year,  or  which 
cave  representatives  thus  observable.  Migrants  are  those  which  pass 
northward  in  the  spring  and  southward  in  the  fall.  Summer  residents  are 
those  which  appear  here  in  the  spring,  rear  their  young,  and  disappear  in 
the  fall.  Winter  residents  appear  in  the  fall,  remain  during  the  winter, 
and  disappear  in  the  spring.  Winter  visitors  are  such  as  are  seen  only  ir- 
regularly in  the  winter. 


A  REVIEW 

An  examination  of  the  foregoing  list  shows  that  the  following  species 
may  be  classed  as  residents:  Richardson's  grouse,  gray  ruffed  grouse, 
Columbian  sharp-tailed  grouse,  sage  grouse,  ferruginous  rough-leg,  golden 
eagle,  bald  eagle,  long-eared  owl,  short-eared  owl,  barred  owl,  Rocky  Moun- 
tain screech  owl,  western  horned  owl,  burrowing  owl,  Rocky  Mountain 
hairy  woodpecker,  Batchelder's  woodpecker,  red-naped  sapsucker,  desert 
horned  lark,  American  magpie,  black-headed  jay,  Rocky  Mountain  jay, 
American  raven,  Clarke's  nutcracker,  Rocky  Mountain  creeper,  Rocky 
Mountan  nuthatch,  red-breasted  nuthatch,  pygmy  nuthatch,  long-tailed 
chickadee,  mountain  chickadee,  bob-white,  house  sparrow — 30  species. 

Summer  residents  are  as  follows:  American  eared  grebe,  pied-billed 
grebe,  American  merganser,  hooded  merganser,  mallard,  gadwall,  bald- 
pate,  green-winged  teal,  blue-winged  teal,  American  golden-eye,  Canada 
goose,  American  bittern,  sora,  American  coot,  American  avocet,  Bartramiau 
sandpiper,  spotted  sandpiper,  long-billed  curlew,  killdeer,  mountain  plover, 
mourning  dove,  marsh  hawk,  sharp-shinned  hawk,  Cooper's  hawk,  Ameri- 
can goshawk,  western  red-tail,  Swainson's  hawk,  duck  hawk,  pigeon  hawk, 
Richardson's  merlin,  American  sparrow  hawk,  American  osprey,  belted  king- 
fisher, red-headed  woodpecker,  Lewis's  woodpecker,  northern  flicker,  red' 
shafted  flicker,  poor-will,  western  nighthawk,  kingbird,  Arkansas  kingbird, 
Say's  phoebe,  western  wood  pewee,  Train's  flycatcher,  American  crow, 
bobolink,  cowbird,  yellow-headed  blackbird,  red-winged  blackbird,  western 
meadowlark,  Bullock's  oriole,  Brewer's  blackbird,  bronzed  grackle,  Ameri- 
can goldfinch,  pine  siskin,  chestnut-collared  longspur,  McCown's  longspur, 
western  vesper  sparrow,  western  savanna  sparrow,  western  grasshopper 
sparrow,  western  lark  sparrow,  western  chipping  sparrow,  clay-colored 
sparrow,  Brewer's  sparrow,  Montana  junco,  mountain  song  sparrow,  arctic 
towhee,  black-headed  grosbeak,  lazuli  bunting,  Louisiana  tanager,  cliff 
swallow,  barn  swallow,  tree  wallow,  bank  swallow,  cedar  waxwing,  white- 
rumped  shrike,  red-eyed  vireo,  warbling  vireo,  yellow  warbler,  Audubon's 


72  BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

warbler,  Grinnell's  water-thrush,  Macgillivray's  warbler,  western  yellow- 
tbroat,  long-tailed  chat,  American  red-start,  Sprague's  pipit,  American  dip- 
per, sage  thrasher,  catbird,  brown  thrasher,  rock  wren,  western  house 
wren,  winter  wren,  golden-crowned  kinglet,  ruby-crowned  kinglet,  Town- 
send's  solitaire,  willow  thrush,  olive-backed  thrush,  western  robin,  mountain 
bluebird,  lark  bunting — 101  species. 

The  migrants  may  be  classed  as  follows:  Shoveller,  pintail,  red-head, 
canvas-back,  lesser  scaup  duck,  buffle-head,  ruddy  duck,  Ross's  snow  goose, 
trumpeter  swan,  sandhill  crane,  northern  halarope,  Wilson's  phalarope, 
Wilson's  snipe,  long-billed  dowitcher,  pectoral  sandpiper,  Baird's  sandpiper, 
least  sandpiper,  semi-palmated  sandpiper,  greater  yellow-legs,  yellow-legs, 
western  solitary  sandpiper,  western  willet,  Eskimo  curlew,  American  gold- 
en plover,  passenger  pigeon,  Gambel's  sparrow,  Lincoln's  sparrow,  orange- 
crowned  warbler,  myrtle  warbler,  black-poll  warbler,  American  pipit — 31 
species. 

The  following  are  winter  residents  or  visitors:  Snowy  owl,  pallid 
horned  lark,  Rocky  Mountain  pine  grosbeak,  American  crossbill,  white- 
winged  crossbill,  gray-crowned  leucosticte,  Hepburn's  leucosticte,  snow- 
fiake,  Lapland  longspur,  western  tree  sparrow,  northern  shrike,  Bohemian 
waxwing,  redpoll — 13  species. 

Other  visitors  are  as  follows:  Herring  gull,  fall  and  winter;  ring- 
billed  gull,  fall  and  winter;  great  blue  heron,  summer  and  fall;  purple 
martin,  summer — 4  species. 

Summary:  Residents,  30  species;  summer  residents,  101  species; 
migrants,  31  species;  winter  residents  or  visitors,  13  species;  other  visitors, 
4  species;  total,  179  species. 


BIRDS  OF  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA 


73 


INDEX 


Aeanthis,   hornemannii    exilipes 

7,    51 

linaria   7,  50 

linaria  holboellii 7,   51 

linaria   rostrata 7,    51 

Accipiter,     atricapillus 28 

cooperi    28 

velox 27 

Actitis    macularia 20 

Actodromas,   bairdii 18 

maculata .18 

minutilla 18 

Agelaius    phoeniceus 45 

Ampelis,  cedrorum 60 

garrulus 60 

Anas   boschas 12 

Anorthura   hiemalis 67 

Anthus,  pensilvanicus 65 

spragueii 66 

Aquila   chrysaetos    31 

Archibuteo  f errugineus 21,  30 

Ardea   herodias 1 6 

Asio,   accipitrinus 34 

wilsonianus 33 

Astragalinus    tristis 51 

Asyndesmus    torquatus 36 

Aythya,    affinis 14 

americana 13 

vallisneria   14 

Avocet,  American 17,  19,  71 

Baldpate 12,  71 

Bartramia   longicauda 20 

Bittern,    American 15,   71 

Blackbird,  Brewer's 

44,  45,   47,  48,  71 

Red-winged 45,    47,    71 

Yellow-headed 44,    71 

Bluebird,  Mountain 70,  72 

Bobolink 5,    44,   71 

Bob-white 70,   71 

Bonasa   umbellus   umbelloides. .  .24 
Botaums   lentiginosus 15 


Branta   canadensis 15 

Bubo  virginianus  pallescens 34 

Buffle-head 14,  72 

Bunting,    Indigo 58 

Lark 6,   58,   59,  72 

Lazuli 58,    71 

Buteo,  borealis  calurus 29 

swainsoni 29 

Calamospiza    melanocorys 58 

Calcarius,    lapponicus 52 

ornatus 53 

Canvas-back 14,   72 

Catbird.... 5,    62,    66,   71 

Centrocercus  urophasianus 25 

Certhia   familiaris    montana 67 

Ceryle   alcyon 35 

Charadrius    dominicus 23 

Charitonetta    albeola 14 

Chat,    Long-tailed 65,    71 

Chaulelasmus    streperus 12 

Chen  rossii 9,   15 

Chickadee,   Long-tailed 68,   71 

Mountain 5,    68,    71 

Chondestes  grammacus  strigatus  55 
Chordeiles  virginianus  henryi...37 

Cinclus    mexicana 66 

Circus    hudsonius 2G 

Clangula  clangula  americana 14 

Colaptes,   auratus   luteus 36 

caf er  collaris 36 

Colinus   virginianus 70 

Colymbus  nigricollis  californicus  11 

Contopus  richardsonii 39 

Coot,   American • 16,  71 

Coturniculus  savannarum  blma- 

culatus 55 

Corvus,    americanus 43 

corax    sinuatus 42 

Cowbird 44,    47,    71 

Crane,  Sandhill 16,  72 

Creeper,  Rocky  Mountain 67,  71 

Crossbill,  American 48,  49,  72 


74 


BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 


White-winged 49,    72 

Crow,    American 33,    43,    71 

Curlew,  Eskimo 23,  72 

Long-billed 

6,  9,  20,  21,  22,  23,  24,  71 

Cyanocitta   stelleri   annectens . . .  42 

Cyanosiza   amoena 58 

Dafila   acuta . 13 

Dendragapus    obscurus    richard- 

sonii 24 

Dendroica,   aestiva 63 

auduboni 63 

coronata 63 

striata 64 

Dipper,   American 5,   66,   71 

Dolichonyx    oryzivorus 44 

Dove,    Mourning 26,    71 

Dowitcher,   Long-billed 18,    72 

Dryobates,  pubescens  homorus..35 

villosus    monticola 35 

Duck,   Lesser   Scaup 14,   72 

Ruddy 14,    72 

Eagle,    Bald 31,    32,    71 

Golden... 31,    32,    71 

Ectopistes    migratorius 26 

Empidonax   traillii 39 

Ereunetes   pusillus 19 

Erismatura  jamaicensis 14 

Falco,    columbarius 32 

peregrinus  anatum 32 

richardsonii 32 

sparverius 32 

Falcon,   American   Lanier 7 

Flicker,   Northern 5,   36,   71 

Red-shafted 36,    71 

Flycatcher,  Traill's 39,  71 

Wright's 9 

Fulica   americana .  .16 

Gadwall.., 12,    71 

Galeoscoptes    carolinensis 66 

Gallinago    delicata 17 

Geothlypis,    tolmiei 64 

trichas   occidentalis 64 

Golden-eye,  American 14,  71 

Goldfinch,    American 

49,  51,  52,  63,  71 

Goose,   Camada 15,   71 


Ross's  Snow 15,  72 

Goshawk,  American 28,  71 

Grackle,    Bronzed 5,    48,    71 

Grebe,  American  Eared 11,  71 

Holboell's 9 

Pied-billed 11,    71 

Grosbeak,  Rocky  Mountain  Pine 

8,    48,    72 

Black-headed 58,   62,   71 

Grouse,   Columbian   Sharp-tailed 

24,    25,    71 

Gray   Ruffed 24,    71 

Richardson's 24,    71 

Sage 6,    25,    71 

Grus    mexicana 16 

Gull,   Herring 11,   72 

Ring-billed 11,   17,   72 

Haliaeetus  leucocephalus 31 

Hawk,  American  Sparrow 

29,    32,    33,  71 

Cooper's 27,    28,    71 

Duck 7,  32.  71 

Marsh 7,  26,  27,  71 

Pigeon 32,  71 

Sharp-shinned 9,    27,    28,71 

Swainson's 7,  29,  30,  71 

Helminthophila    celata 63 

Helodromas.      solitarius      cinna- 

mbmeus 19 

Heron,  Great  Blue 16,  72 

Hirundo    erythrogastra 60 

Hylocichla,  fuscescens  salicicola  69 

ustulatus    swainsonii 69 

Ibis,    Wood 7 

Icteria   virens   longicauda 65 

Icterus  bullocki 46 

Iridoprocne  bicolor 60 

Jay,    Black-headed 42,    71 

Rocky  Mountain 5,  42,  71 

Junco,    mearnsi 57 

montanus 57 

Junco,   Pink-sided 57 

Montana 57,   71 

Killdeer 23,   71 

Kingbird 5,    37,    61,    71 

Arkansas 38,    71 

Kingfisher,  Belted 35,  71 


BIRDS  OF  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA 


75 


Kinglet,    Golden-crowned 68,    72 

Ruby-crowned 9,    68,    72 

Lanius,    borealis 61 

ludovicianus   excubitorides . .  ..62 

Lark,    Desert   Horned 

6,  39,  40,  41,  65,  71 

Pallid    Horned 41,    72 

Lams,  argentatus : 11 

delawarensis 11 

Leucosticte,   te,phrocotis ......  8,    49 

tephrocotis  littoralis 8,  50 

Leucosticte,   Gray-crowned 

5,  9,  49,  50,  51,  72 

Hepburn's 9,  50,  72 

Longspur,   Chestnut-collared 

6,    53,    71 

Lapland 52,    72 

McCown's..6,  7,  9,  24,  53,  65,  71 

Lophodytes    cucullatus 12 

Loxia,  curvirostra  minor 48 

leucoptera 49 

Macrorhamphus    scolopaceus 18 

Magpie,    American 

8,  9,  34,  41,  42,  71 

Mallard 12,   71 

Mareca   americana 12 

Martin,  Purple 59,   72 

Meadowlark,  Western 

6,   24,   45,   46,  71 

Megascops  asio   maxwelliae 34 

Melanerpes    erythrocephalus. .  .  .36 
Melospiza,  cinerea  montana 57 

lincolnii 57 

Merganser   americanus 12 

Merganser,    American 12,    71 

Hooded 12,    71 

Merlin,   Richardson's 32,   71 

Merula  migratoria  propinqua 70 

Molothrus  ater 44 

Myadestes    townsendii 69 

Nettion    carolinensis 13 

Nighthawk,   Western 37,   71 

Nucifraga  columbianus 43 

Numenius,    borealis 23 

longirostris 20 

Nutcracker,    Clarke's.. 5,    8,    43,   71 
Nuthatch,    Pygmy 5,    68,    71 


Red-breasted 68,   71 

Rocky   Mountain 68,  71 

Nyctea  nyctea 35 

Olor    buccinator 15 

Oriole,   Bullock's 46,   71 

Oroscoptes    montanus 66 

Osprey,  American 33,  71 

Otocoris,    alpestris    articola 41 

alpestris    leucolaema 39 

Owl,   American  Long-eared.  .33,  71 

Barred 34.   71 

Burrowing 35,    71 

Rocky   Mountain    Screech. 34,   71 

Short-eared 34,    71 

Snowy 35,   72 

Western  Horned 34,  71 

Oxyechus   vocif erus .* 23 

Pandion  haliaetus   carolinensis.  .33 
Parus,    atricapillus    septentrion- 

alis 68 

gambeli ....68 

Passer   domesticus 70 

Passerculus  sandwichensis  alau- 

dinus 54 

Passerina    nivalis 52 

Pedioecetes  phasianellus  colum- 
bianus  24 

Perisoreus  canadensis  capitalis . .  42 

Petrochelidon    lunif rons 59 

Pewee,  Western  Wood 39 

Phalaenoptilus    nuttallii ...37 

Phalarope,   Northern 17,   72 

Wilson's   17,  72 

Phalaropus,   lobatus 9,   17 

tricolor 9 

Phoebe,  Say's 38,  71 

Pica  pica  hudsonia 41 

Pigeon,    Passenger 26,    72 

Pinicola   enuncleator   montana. .  48 

Pintail 13,  71 

Pipilo  maculatus  arcticus 58 

Pipit,    American 65,    72 

Sprague's 6,    66,   71 

Piranga   ludoviciana 59 

Plover,  American  Golden 23,  72 

Mountain 6,    24,    71 

Podasocys  montanus 24 


BULLETIN  FERGUS  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 


Podilymbus  podiceps 11 

Pooecetes  gramineus  confinis 54 

Poor-will 37,  71 

Porzana  Carolina 16 

Progne    subis 59 

Querquedula    discors 13 

Quiscalus    quiscala   aeneus 48 

Raven,  American 42,  71 

Recurvirostra   americana 17 

Redhead 13,   72 

Redpoll 51,   52,   72 

Greater 51 

Hoary   51 

Holboell's 51 

Redstart,  American 65,  71 

Red-tail,  Western 29,  71 

Regulus,  calendula 68 

satrapa 68 

Riparia  riparis 60 

Rhynchophanes   mccownii 53 

Robin,  Western 59,  70,  72 

Rough-leg,   Ferruginous 

7,  21,  30,  31,  71 

Salpinctes    obsoletus 67 

Sandpiper,   Baird's 18,   72 

Bartramian 5,  20,  71 

Least 18,   33,   72 

Pectoral 18,    72 

Semipalmated 19,    72 

Western  Solitary 19,  72 

Spotted 19,    20,   71 

Sapsucker,   Red-naped 36,   71 

Sayornis    saya 38 

Scolecophagus  cyanocephalus  ...  47 
Seiurus  noveboracensls  notabllis  64 

Setophaga    ruticilla 65 

Shoveller 13,    72 

Shrike,  Northern 61,  62,  72 

White-rumped 62,  71 

Sialia    arctica 70 

Siskin,  Pine 5,  52,  71 

Sitta,    canadensis 7,    68 

carolinensis   nelsoni 68 

pygmaea 68 

Snipe,   Wilson's 17,   19,   72 

Snowflake 52,    65,    72 

Solitaire,  Townsend's 69,  72 


Sora 16,  71 

Sparrow,  Brewer's 57,  71 

Clay-colored 6,    56,    71 

Gambel's 55,    56,    72 

House,   or  English 

48,    49,    70,    71,    72 

Lincoln's 57  ,72 

Mountain  Song 57,  71 

Western  Chipping 51,  56,  71 

Western   Grasshopper 55,    71 

Western    Lark - 55,    71 

Western  Savanna 54,  55,  71 

Western  Tree 56,  72 

Western  Vesper 6,  54,   66,  71 

Spatula  clypeata 13 

Speotyto  cunicularia  hypogaea.  .35 

Sphyrapicus   varius   nuchalis 36 

Spinus    pinus 52 

Spizella,  breweri 56,   57 

monticola    ochracea 56 

pallida 56 

socialis  arizonae 56 

Steganopus   tricolor 17 

Sturnella  magna  neglecta 45 

Swallow,  Bank 60,  71 

Barn 60,    71 

Cliff 59,    71 

Tree 60,   61,   71 

Swan,  Trumpeter 15,  72 

Symphemia    semipalmata    inor- 

nata 20 

Syrnium   varium 34 

Tanager,  Louisiana 9,  59,  71 

Tantalus    loculator 7 

Teal,  Blue-winged 13,  71 

Green-winged 13,   71 

Thrasher,  Brown 5,  67,  71 

Sage 6,   66,  71 

Thrush,  Olive-backea 69,  72 

Willow 69,  72 

Tetanus,   flavipes 19 

melanoleucus 19 

Towhee,  Arctic 58,  71 

Toxostoma   rufum 67 

Troglodytes  aedon  aztecus 67 

Tyrannus,  tyrannus 37,  38 

verticalis . .  . .  38 


BIRDS  OF  FERGUS  COUNTY,  MONTANA. 


77 


Vireo,  gilvus 62 

olivaceus  62 

Vireo,  Red-eyed 5,  62,  71 

Warbling 62,  71 

Warbler,  Audubon's 9,  63,  71 

Black-poll 64,  72 

Macgillivray's 64,  71 

Myrtle 63,  72 

Orange-crowned 63,  72 

Townsend's  9,  64 

Yellow 44,  52,  62,  63,  71 

Water-thrush,  GrinnelPs 64,  71 

Waxwing,  Bohemian 60,  61,  72 

Cedar 61,  71 

Widgeon 12 


I     Willet,   Western 20,   72 

Woodpecker,  Batchelder's 35,  71 

Lewis's 36,   71 

Rocky  Mountain  Hairy 35,  71 

Red-headed 5,   36,,   61,   71 

Wren,   Rock 67,  71 

Western  House 67,   71 

Winter 67,    72 

Xanthocephalus    xanthocephalus .  44 

Yellow-legs 17,  19.  33,  72 

Greater 17.   19,   78 

Yellow-throat,  Western 64,  71 

Zamelodia   melanocephala 58 

Zenaidura    macroura 28 

Zonotrichia  leucophrys  gambelii.55 


•1 


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